This species is better known in the literature as Polygonum odoratum[].

Common Name: Vietnamese Coriander

General Information

Persicaria odorata is a short-lived, perennial plant growing 15 - 30cm tall[].
The plant is sometimes cultivated for its edible leaves[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Habitat

Wet environments.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in tropical to warm temperate areas[]. Light frost is probably tolerated[].
Requires a moist soil, succeeding in shallow water[]. Fertile soils with adequate soil moisture are essential for optimal production[]. It grows best under partial shade, but full sunlight is tolerated if ample moisture is available[].
The first harvest of the leaves can be taken when plants are nearly 2 months old; subsequent harvests are every 12 - 15 days in tropical areas[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves are used raw or cooked as a flavouring[, ]. The aroma is rather similar to coriander, with a hot, peppery but refreshing flavour[, ]. A few leaves can be added to a mixed salad, or they can be cooked with rice, vegetables etc[]. The flavour is destroyed by prolonged cooking[]. A few young shoots, combined with water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) are often added when preparing cabbage preserved in brine (like sauerkraut)[]. Older, more red, leaves are generally considered too peppery to be used[]. Although relished by the Vietnamese, the flavour of the leaves is not universally admired, though it is liked by some people who do not appreciate the taste of coriander leaves[].

We have no specific information for this species, but the seed of most, if not all, members of the genus is edible both raw and cooked, and is potentially a good source of amino acids. Unfortunately the seed is also usually rather small and fiddly to utilize[].

Medicinal

The leaves are used as a diuretic, stomachic, febrifuge and anti-aphrodisiac[, ]. The fresh leaves appear to have abortifacient properties[]. Juice prepared from the crushed leaves is taken as an antidote against poisonous snake bite[].
Externally, the crushed leaves are applied against fever, vomiting, ringworm and phagedaena[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
The plant is easily propagated by stem cuttings with 4 - 6 internodes (8 - 10 cm long) taken from the top of mature stems[]. These are planted obliquely 5 - 6 cm apart with a row spacing of 10 - 15 cm in raised beds of light, well-manured soil and are watered well[]. Under warm and humid conditions cuttings start rooting after 3 - 5 days and growing after about a week[].

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