Algae and Plants
63
Jussiaea suffruticosa (Linn.) (= Ludwigia octovalvis)
Order: Myrtales
Family: Onagraceae
Common name: Willow primrose.
Habitat: Wetlands, seasonally wet places,
rice-growing areas.
Distribution: Throughout the tropics of
the world (Kew Royal Botanic Garden).
Description: It is an erect, stout, wellbranched robust herb. It may be woody
at the base and shrubby at times,
growing up to 4 m. Stems may be redbrown. Alternately arranged leaves are
light green, narrowly lance shaped to
ovate, up to 15 cm long, 0.4–4 cm wide,
densely velvety on both sides, narrowed at base and tip. Sepals are four,
ovate or lance shaped, 0.8–1.3 cm long
by 1–7.5 mm wide. Flowers are singly
in leaf axils and at branch ends. Petals
are four, pale to bright yellow, 0.6–2 cm
long, 0.4–1.7  cm wide, and broadly
obovate. Shoot of this species is edible
(Kew Royal Botanic Garden).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition of Shoot (% DM)
Fat
CHO a
Protein
2.0
6.8
9.76
a Carbohydrate.
Minerals (% or mg/100 g DM)
P
(%)
N2
(%)
K
(%)
Na
(%)
Fe
(%)
Mg
(mg)
Cu
(mg)
Zn
(mg)
0.98 1.56 0.13 0.02 0.75 0.82 0.09 0.33
Source: Data from Jain et al. (2011).