WILD
FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST
NAME: Asiatic Tearthumb
SPECIES / FAMILY: Polygonum Perfoliatum / Polygonaceae
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Mile-a-minute
CONDITIONS:
sun/shade
|
PARTS: |
EDIBLE |
TASTE |
RAW/COOK |
SEASON |
|
All |
|
|
|
|
|
Shoots |
|
lemon |
RAW/COOK |
Spring |
|
Leaves |
|
lemon |
RAW/COOK |
Spring/Summer |
|
Stalk/Stem |
|
|
|
|
|
Buds |
||||
|
Flowers |
|
|
|
|
|
Fruits |
|
|
RAW/COOK |
Aug-Oct |
|
Pods |
|
|||
|
Seeds |
|
|
RAW/COOK |
|
|
Nuts |
|
|
|
|
|
Roots |
|
|
|
|
|
Bark |
|
|
|
|
PORTION: small-medium
COMMENT: Tender young leaves and shoots - raw or cooked. An acid flavor. Used as a vegetable. Cooked with other greens and eaten as a side dish with rice. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize. The ripe fruits (seeds) are eaten fresh, especially by children.(1)
CAUTION: Barbs on backs of leaves and along vines. Greens contain oxalic acid which is minimized when cooked.
NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: “Asiatic tearthumb fruits are edible to humans and have a high potassium content. Asiatic tearthumb has been used in China as an herbal medicine for the relief of fever, inflammation, cough, and swelling. It has also been used to treat snakebites and dysentery. Asiatic tearthumb extracts may reduce blood sugar levels and inhibit cancer cell growth.”(3)
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES: Extracts from the whole plant have been used for insect pest control in China.(3)
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):