Digera muricata

(L.) Mart.

Wild rhubarb, False amaranth

AmaranthaceaeLeavesFlowersShootsScore: 30/100

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Stems, Flowers, Nectar, Vegetable

The leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable, seasoned with salt and chilli or used in curries. The stems are also consumed, and nectar is sucked from the flowers.

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. Western Rajasthan. In Pakistan it grows up to 1,500 m altitude. In Kenya it grows between sea level and 1,500 m altitude. It can grow in dry savannah and semi-desert and moist locations. It is often near streams.

Afghanistan, Africa, Arabia, Asia, Bangladesh, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Middle East, Myanmar, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bhutan, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

An annual herb. It grows 20-50 cm high. The leaf blade is narrowly oval. It lies over. It is branched from the base. The leaves are alternate. It is 2-6 cm long by 6-30 mm wide. The flowers are white or pink. They are small and long slender flower stalks. The fruit have one seed.

Nutrition Score: 30/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves boiled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Leaves	83.8	—	—	4.3	—	—	17.7	0.6

How to Grow

A very adaptable plant, it occurs naturally in both tropical and subtropical regions, where it can be found in semi-arid through to quite moist areas. The plant often occurs as a weed in fields in its native range, and can sometimes become troublesome. Two distinct subspecies of this plant have been distinguished: subsp. Muricata, which occurs mainly in Asia, but also in eastern Africa and Madagascar; subsp. Trinervis, found mainly in Africa. Based on hairiness of leaves and on form of scales in sterile flowers, several varieties have been distinguished in subsp. Trinervis, of which var. patentipilosa seems most suitable as a leafy vegetable because it has large leaves.

Medicinal Uses

Used internally against digestive system disorders. The seeds and flowers are used to treat urinary disorders.

Other Information

The flowers are sucked by children. It is occasionally cultivated and sold in markets. It is a minor vegetable of local importance.

Notes

There is only one Digera species.

Names & Synonyms

Aghada, Athi, Booti, Chanchali, Chenchalikura, Chenchel kura, Chenchulaaku, Chererayan, Cheriyan, chu neyyi kura, ChenGitana, Getna, Gorji soppu, Gungatiya, Jamaika sak, Jonnachemchali, Kaprimet, Kari bhaji, Kari gandhari, Kattukkeerai, Khanjru, Kogatu, Korithusoppu, Kundursa, Kunzar, Kunzru, Kurdu, Lahsuva, Lal-lahuria, Lasua, Lata mouri, Lataroo, Latmhuria, Lehesua, Lehsua, Leswa, Lulur, Mareeri saag, Morang, Nazam hoora, Sermo, Tandala, Tandla, Tandoli, Tanduli-matala, Tanduljira, Tartara, Theyya, Thonthoni shak, Thoyya, Thoyyake-erai, Torcha, Torchata, Torqeta, Walange, Yut-na-daung

Achyranthes alternifolia L.Achyranthes ciliata Lam.Achyranthes digera Poir.Achyranthes muricata L.Achyranthes polygonoides Retz.Amaranthus arvensis (Forssk.) K. KrauseCelosia muricata Spreng.Chamissoa arabica Spreng.Chamissoa ciliata Spreng.Chamissoa commutata Spreng.Chamissoa muricata Spreng.Cladostachys alternifolia SweetCladostachys arborescens D. Dietr.Desmochaeta alternifolia (L.) DC.Desmochaeta ciliata Schult.Digera alternifolia (L.) AschersDigera angustifolia Suess.Digera arvensis Forssk.Digera ciliata (Lam.) Mart.Digera forsskaolii BlumeDigera frutescens Juss. ex Steud.Eclotoripa annua Raf.Eclotripa fruticosa Raf.

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