Edible: Leaves, Rhizomes, Fruit, Vegetable, Roots, Plant - tea, Flowers
A herb 10-30 cm tall. It climbs slightly. It has stolons and continues to grow from year to year. The leaves are alternate and oval. They narrow to the tip and are heart shaped at the base. They are 10 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are slightly hairy on the veins. They have a smell of oranges when crushed. The leaf stalk is 3-4 cm long. The flowers are in a spike. This is at the ends of branches and is 2.5 cm long by 6 mm wide. There are 4 developed bracts. These are oval and 1.5-2 cm long and white. The fruit is an urn shaped capsule. The seed are oval and 1 mm long.
A tropical to temperate plant. It is frost hardy. In Nepal it grows between 700-2500 m altitude. It grows in moist, shady places. It will grow in water up to 3-5 cm deep. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Common Names: Aithanglou, Ai thang, Amuli, Arunaha, Azina, Bagnetra, Checha peya, Chi pahoa, Chu tsai, Dokudami, Eshakama, Fish mint, Fitta dhu, Ganaune jihar, Gandhe, Gane, Gardhe, Gaycho, Gaytsho, Giap ca, Gou tie wu, Hankumphi, Heartleaf, Heeli jhar, Hiley-jhar, Hongyea, Houttuynia, Ja mardoh, Ja-myrdoh, Jarmendo, Jukut hanyir, Kaiyukhing, Ke sa li guo, La diep ca, Lizard's tail herb, Lu lin, Machundari, Maisundri, Majoukhom bua, Masundari, Mesandori, Mojoukhmo, Mombering, Mosondari, Mosondoi, Mreptang, Myrdoh, Nga-nyi, Pahaodong, Pa huai, Pa hui, Palhao, Parushampabi, Phak khaao thong, Phapre jhor, Phluu kae, Rau daap, Rau diep ca, Roram, Sabiegeye, Thalai naam, Thingnaluk, Tokningkok, Toninkhok, Tri-okudami, Tsi, Tufo, Tuningko, Ui-thin-thang, VeSiahamang, Wu se b, Yu xing cao, Yuxingcao, Zhergen
Synonyms:
Houttuynia emeiensis Z. Y. Zhu & S. L. Zhang;
Houttuynia foetida Loudon;
Polypara cordata Kuntze;