Persicaria pubescens

(Blume) H. Hara

Water smartweed

PolygonaceaeLeavesSeeds/NutsSpice/BeveragePotential hazards — see below

iNaturalist · cc0
no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds, Spice

The leaves are used as a seasoning and leafy vegetable, while the young shoots are used as a spice. The seeds are also edible.

Known Hazards

A paste made from the whole plant is thrown into a stream to stupefy the fish and make them float up to the surface. Although no specific mention has been made for this species, there have been reports that some members of this genus can cause photosensitivity in susceptible people. Many species also contain oxalic acid (the distinctive lemony flavour of sorrel) - whilst not toxic this substance can bind up other minerals making them unavailable to the body and leading to mineral deficiency. Having said that, a number of common foods such as sorrel and rhubarb contain oxalic acid and the leaves of most members of this genus are nutritious and beneficial to eat in moderate quantities. Cooking the leaves will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows along ditches and near water. In China it grows from sea level to 2,700 m above sea level. In Pakistan it grows up to 1,500 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

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 80-100 cm high. The small branches are hairy. The nodes are enlarged. The leaves are sword shaped and 3-8 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The lower leaves fall off at flowering. The leaves are green with a dark patch below the middle. The flowers are red. There are 3-10 in a loose group at the ends of branches. The flowering groups are 1-10 cm long. The fruit is a dry 3 sided seed 2 mm long.

How to Grow

Persicaria pubescens is found in the warmer parts of the temperate zone and through to tropical areas, where it can be found at elevations up to 2,700 metres. Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade. Repays generous treatment. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

Propagation: Seed - sow in situ. Germination is usually free and easy.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is abortifacient, emmenagogue. It is used in the treatment of snakebites. A decoction of the plant, combined with onion, is used as a styptic. When used with a young pineapple to procure abortion, it mitigates the violent action of the pineapple. The bruised plant is applied locally to blistered and swollen feet.

Notes

There are about 50 Polygonum species.

Names & Synonyms

Jehe shla, Kelima paya, Kesuma, Lato pire, Nghe long, Nghe long, ng(aws)n, Siok-siok-rangan, Tebuk seludang, Tebok selydang, Tuboh lalap, Tuboh perpancej

Persicaria flaccida (Meisn.) Nakai ex SasakiPersicaria flaccida (Meisn.) H. GrossPersicaria pubescens (Blume) H. HaraPolygonum flaccidum Meisn.and others

References (13)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 479 (As Polygonum flaccidum)
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1824 (As Polygonum pubescens)
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5 (As Polygonum pubescens)
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org (As Persicaria pubescens)
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 372 (As Polygonum flaccidum)
Kumar, Y J. et al, 1987, Further Contribution to the Ethnobotany of Meghalaya: Plants used by "War jaintia" of Jaintia Hill District. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol 11 No. 1 pp 65- (As Polygonum flaccidum)
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 214 (As Polygonum pubescens)
Pham-Hoang Ho, 1999, An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. Nha Xuat Ban Tre. p 750 (As Polygonum pubescens)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Polygonum pubescens)
PROSEA handbook Volume 13 Spices. p 260 (As Persicaria pubescens)
Srivastava, R. C., 2009, Traditional knowledge of Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh on plants. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 8(2): 146-153 (As Polygonum pubescens)
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 68 (As Polygonum pubescens)
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew