Plant Name Alternanthera sessilis
Marathi: Koprya
Hindi: Gudrisag
English: Sessilie joyweed, Tangle Mat
Identification guide
Stems
rooting at the nodes, cylindrical and faintly hairy, erect branches
Leaves
opposite and clustered, simple type, lanceolate to spathulate in shape, obtute apex,entire margin and cuneate base.
Infloresence
white, axillary spikes, sessile,dense,
Seeds/fruits
Fruit: compressed, small and flat, enclosing the seed
Seeds: orbicular, dark brown to black
Habit / Habitat
Perennial herb
It typically grows on disturbed parts of wetlands and often observed in a species-rich association with other plants of variety of habitat such as flood-plain wetland, margins of river, streams, canals, ponds, ditches, and damp forest1. "
Occurrence
1) The species is widespread in tropical and sub-tropical countries like most of south of the Sahara and Egypt, Middle-East, East and South-east Asia. But it is largely absent from temperate and Mediterranean region due to its intolerance to extreme cold temperatures.
Edible parts
World wide use Leaves and young shoots
Used by tribal community in Jawhar
Method of consumption
Jawhar tribal Leaves and young shoots are boiled and used as a vegetable
Other Recipe
Stirfried Alternanthera sessilis/ Honagone Soppu – Palya
Categories: Sidedish, soppu Recipies
Ingredients
1.Leaves of Hongone Soppu : 3 big cups (Wash and Cut)
2.Cooked Lentils : 2 tbsp (optional, tastes good if u add)
3.Green Chillies : 4 (slit vertically)
4.Onion: 1 medium size (diced to cubes of 1/2"")
5.Garlic: 1 pod (minced)
6.pepper: 1/2 tsp
7.Sambhar Powder/Srilankan curry powder : 1tbsp
8.turmeric: a pinch
9.Oil: 1tbsp
10.Tadka/Tampering Ingrediants: Mustard & urad dhal
Directions
Heat oil in a wide pan, add mustard. When mustard stops crackling, add urad dhal fry till it turns brown followed by garlic, fry till garlic turns brown and then add green chillies; Onion follows, and then is the turn of pepper& turmeric to go in. When onions turn transcluscent add finely chopped greens, mix and cover cook for 3-4 mins till the leaves get cooked. Once the leaves are cooked add sambhar powder and mix, add cooked lentils. Simmer on low heat for about a min or two and remove the pan from stove and let it cool. Keep the pan covered with a lid. Serve after 3 mins. This will allow the flavors to mix well with soppu/leaves. Serve hot with rice or chapathi.
Nutritional and medicinal information
Nutrition of Sessile Joyweed, 100 gm :
Sr. No. Parameters Amount %DV
- Total fat 0.8g 1%
- Carbohydrates 11.8g 4%
- Dietary fiber 2.1g 8%
- Sugars 11.6
- Protein 4.7
- Vitamin C 28%
- Calcium 15%
- Iron 93%
Harvesting and preserving
Succeeds in sun or moderate shade. Prefers a loamy, alkaline soil, but can succeed in a wide range of soils. Plants can be grown in moist to wet soil and in shallow water.
Alternanthera sessilis is a weed that inhabits many areas of the world. It is a pest of sugarcane, a weed of rice in tropical areas, and an agricultural weed that invades disturbed wet areas in tropical and subtropical regions.
A rather variable plant, growing upright in drier soils, but becoming prostrate in wetter conditions with the shoots rooting at the nodes."
Propagation and Storage
1) Propagules: Seeds
2) Edibles: Eaten immediately after harvested from wild.
Other uses
The stems and leaves of sessile joyweed are used to treat eye problems. The shoots of the weed are mixed with other ingredients to improve male sexual potency. The weed is sometimes used topically to treat acne. In Southeast Asia, young shoots and leaves are eaten as vegetables.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub-division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Sub-class: Apetalae
Series: Curvembryae
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Alternanthera
Species: sessilis
References
1. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/164480/0
2. http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/4404
3. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/32910
4. https://www.caloriecount.com/calories-sessile-joyweed-i440218
5. https://www.recipething.com/recipes/show/40180-stirfried-alternanthera-sessilis-honagone-soppu-palya http://www.livestrong.com/article/28736-uses-alternanthera-sessilis/ http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Alternanthera+sessilis