BOTANICAL NAME: Rungia klossii
COMMON NAMES: mushroom plant; acanth spinach; shombay; moku; tani; kenkaba
FAMILY: Acanthaceae
ORIGIN: Papua New Guinea
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A low growing, attractive, perennial, clumping plant which gets its common name from the slight mushroom flavour of the leaves. The dark green leaves are oval-shaped, thick and slightly crinkled. Mushroom Plant will tolerate most soils although it prefers a moderate to rich loam and it dislikes waterlogging. Plant it in full sun to medium shade. It will survive light frosts with only slight damage.
USES
The nutritious leaves contain iron, Beta-carotene and vitamin C. The leaves and stems are eaten raw in salads or cooked as a green vegetable in stir-fries.
PLANTING DETAILS
It grows easily from cuttings. Propagate it during the wet season or in spring in cooler areas. Cuttings 15 - 20 cm long can be planted three to four to a hole. Strip the leaves off the bottom half of the stems and bury to half their length and keep moist. When established the cuttings shoot from the roots and quickly form dense clumps. In moist climates this technique can be used to create an edible ground cover. Space plants 60 cm apart.
