Common name: Chameleon Plant, Toningkhok (Manipuri)
Botanical name: Houttuynia cordata Family: Saururaceae (lizard-tail family)
Chameleon Plant is a perennial ground cover plant. It is been marketed as a
creeping ornamental garden plant, which has heart shaped leaves up to 75 mm
long and almost as wide. The leaves are comprised of a mixture of colors from
green through yellow to red, the brighter colors being more prominent when
grown in full sunlight. The leaves are opposite along thin erect stems which
arise from slender rhizomes. The minute flowers are densely clustered on short
spikes. At the base of each spike are four white petal-like parts. The leaves
of Chameleon Plant are heart-shaped, usually green, but take on various colors
like variegated cream, bronze, scarlet, and have a peppery scent
when crushed. The leaves make a marvelous flavoring in salads. In Manipur,
people love it and consume it in various ways, as salad, also in pakodas.
Medicinal uses: Leaf-extract is used in dysentry, rhizome is used i
stomach ulcers. Boiled extract of rhizomes is taken for muscular pains due to
overstrain.
| Photographed in Imphal, Manipur. |
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