Hemidesmus indicus
(L.) W. T. Aiton
Indian sarsaparilla
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(c) Shiwalee Samant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Shiwalee Samant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Roots - flavouring, Tuber, Leaves
The roots are used as a flavoring in foods as a sarsaparilla substitute, and are brewed in tea and soft drinks. The root bark is powdered and consumed as a coffee drink. Young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable or prepared as a drink.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. In Sri Lanka it grows below 800 m above sea level.
Asia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka,
How to Identify
A shrubby twining plant or climber. It has a woody rootstock and long whip-like stems. These are thickened at the nodes. The leaves are simple, long and narrow. They are 5-10 cm long by 0.8-1.8 cm wide. The flower stalks are covered by many bracts. The fruit is a long dry pod. It is 10-15 cm long by 0.6 cm wide. The seeds are 6-8 mm long.
Nutrition Score: 27/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 92.1 | 109 | 26 | 2 | — | 28 | — | — |
Medicinal Uses
Used traditionally in various preparations, particularly the roots and root bark.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Hemidesmus indicus, Indian sarsaparilla, is a species of plant found in South Asia. It occurs over the greater part of India, from the upper Gangetic plain eastwards to Assam and in some places in central, western and South India. The root is a substitute for sarsaparilla (the dried root of the tropical species of Smilax, Smilacaceae; in India Smilax aspera L., and Smilax ovalifolia Roxb.). It should be distinguished from Mexican sarsaparilla Smilax aristolochiifolia Mill. and Jamaican sarsaparilla Smilax ornata Hook.f..
Notes
There is only one Hemidesmus species. It has also been put in the family Asclepiadaceae and Periplocaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Anantmool, Anantmul, Anantvel, Arakkam, Aritinviyachi, Iramusu, Khaprilbela, Khobarjadiwel, Nannari, Nunnery root, Paala tiga, Parukia, Raigadi, Sogade beru, Subudi, Uparsul
References (23)
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