Persicaria perfoliata (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Persicaria perfoliata (L.) H. Gross

Family: Polygonaceae

Synonyms

• Polygonum perfoliatum L.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: wedusan (Java), gam(b)et gunung (West Java)
• Philippines: kangigit (Igorot), ligu (Ifugao)
• Thailand: somkhomkhiang
• Vietnam: rau má ngọ, thồm lồm gai.

Distribution

From India to Japan, including South-East Asia.

Uses

The sour young shoots and fruits are eaten mixed with other vegetables. In Vietnamese local medicine the pounded fresh leaves are used to cover snake-bites and boils.

Observations

• Perennial, much branched, climbing to ascending herb, 1-5 m tall, with spiny stem.
• Leaf-blade deltoid, 2-8 cm × 2-8 cm, beneath with small prickles on the nerves; petiole 3-13 cm long, spiny; stipules foliaceous, orbicular, 3-4 cm in diameter, amplexicaul.
• Inflorescence a terminal spike or raceme, 2-3 cm long.
• Fruit baccate, subglobose, 3 mm in diameter, shiny blue-black.

In thickets and hedges, in humid or waterlogged localities, watersides, from 450-1500 m altitude.

Selected sources

7, 66.