Ruehssia macrophylla

(Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.) H. Karst.

Spotted leaved marsdenia

ApocynaceaeLeavesShoots
Ruehssia macrophylla
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Rich Hoyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Rich Hoyer
Ruehssia macrophylla
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Paola Ordóñez M., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Ruehssia macrophylla
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Paola Ordóñez M., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Stem, Leaves

The stems and leaves are boiled and eaten, though they have a bitter taste.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry sandy savannah. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Argentina, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil*, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Guyana, India, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Northeastern India, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Belize, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Mexico, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Suriname, El Salvador, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A tropical vine with simple opposite leaves and green and white flowers, native to dry sandy savannah in Argentina where it grows from sea level to 1,500 m elevation. The stems and leaves are sold in local markets.

Other Information

Stems and leaves are sold in local markets.

Names & Synonyms

An-kha-pui, Talayote

Asclepias macrophylla Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.Marsdenia maculata HookMarsdenia macrophylla (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.) E. Fourn.Ruehssia purpurea Schltdl.and others
References (3)
  • Kar, A., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plant Resources used by the Mizos of Mizoram, India. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology. Vol. 9, No. 1, July, 2013, 106-126 (As Marsdenia maculata)
  • Kew Plants of the World Online
  • Piedra-Malagón, E. M. et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 9 (As Marsdenia macrophylla)

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