Need a Name for this Medicinal Herb

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by Chanwit, Nov 11, 2006.

  1. Chanwit

    Chanwit Member

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    I was at an Asian Buddhist Temple and everyone was eating the leaves from this plant. They said it has curing powers. I asked about it and someone gave me 4 small stems which I took home and put in water and the stems grew roots. Two weeks later I transplanted them to some mulch and they are very healthy and growing more leaves. This plant doesn't seem to have a flower. It reproduces by grow roots from a stem. It does taste healthy. I wish I knew what I am eating.
    Can anyone put a name to this plant? I couldn't find it in a Chinese herb book.
    Thanks - Chanwit
     

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  2. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    This will be pretty tough without a flower (and yes, it will flower eventually, but whether a year or twenty years, who can say?)
     
  3. Weekend Gardener

    Weekend Gardener Active Member 10 Years

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    Looks like Solanum, a number of varieties of which are used as medicinal herbs. A number of steroidal alkaloids and glycosides, some of which are cytotoxic, have been isolated from the fruits and foliage of this group of plants.
     
  4. Chanwit

    Chanwit Member

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    Well that's a great start.
    I'll keep a watch out for a flower.
    It's not poisonous because I'm still alive after eating the leaves.
    When the lady who gave me the stalks gets back from Thailand I try for a name even if it's phonetic or chinese.
    Thanks for the help
     
  5. et2007

    et2007 Active Member

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    N. Olmsted, OH. USA
    Chanwit:
    I'm searching for the same plant. So far i think it is Gymnema sylvestre but I'm not 100% sure for I could not compared because of unclear pictures.
    You are braver than me, I'm still couldn't bring myself to eat it.
     

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