Kh'merican Backyard Gardening. Vegetables and Herbs

ត្រចៀកក្រាញ់ (Hydrocotyle umbellata). Commonly known as Water pennywort, Marsh-Pennywort,  Copper Coin, or Dollarweed. It's a culinary-medicinal plant that is well-loved among the Southeast Asian community. Ones known as Water pennywort seems to be in reference to  the glossy, thick, and scrip leaves varieties of pennywort such as Hydrocotyle, H. americana, H. bonariensis, H. bowlesioides, H. hirsute, H. ranunculoides, and others. And, H. sibthorpioides is closely related to these guys. They look, taste, and scent very much alike. But, there's one distinctive feature on the leaves of  H. ranunculoides that sets it apart from others is that its leaves are lprominently toothed with a cleft in middle where the base of leave attached to petiole,  whereas the others are with subtle toothed.   And, Hydrocotyle bonariensis are usually with  bigger leaves than that of H. umbellata.  They're are subtly toothed with a continuous circle. A native to Cambodia and neighboring countrie

Oenanthe Sarmentosa/ O. Javanica or ភ្លៅ​កង្កែប. Also know as Water Parsley,  Water Dropwort.  Surprisingly this Cambodia native plant also a native to the Pacific Northwest states as well. I grew up eating this veggie in Khmer dishes. A Khmer culinary herbs. The Khmers primarily used it as a vegetable than it is herb. In sour Soups, Stir Fry or as  wraps with dipping sauce (Khmer Pesto). Caution: DO NOT be mistaken it with its poisonous cousin,  Water Hemlock (Oenanthe Crotata). A native to Cambodia, and the Pacific northwest states. A perennial in tropical and subtropical climate. It's frost sensitive. Like Rice Paddy herbs,  Water Parsley thrive in wetlands and spreading matting stolone below surfaces.  Commonly found in fresh waterways. Prefer moist sandy soil.  It's 

ត្រចៀកក្រាញ់ (Centella Asiatica), also known as Asiatica Pennywort, Gotu Kola.  It is used in folk medicine for different purposes. My great-grandparents is known to have used its extract to keep fever at bay.   A perennial native to Cambodia. Taste slightly bitter, salty like celery,  and scented like carrot. Centella Asiatica is a moisture loving culinary and medicinal plant. Thrives on edge of streams and river banks.  This variety of Pennywort is also eaten raw or cooked.  It can be used as you please. In  a veggie assortment platter as a table condiments,  in Salad, Soups, or a quick blanched in Strir Fry.  Its extract is also use in beverage drinks.  C. Asiatica chemistry: Centella contains pentacyclic triterpenoids, including asiaticoside, brahmoside, asiatic acid, and brahmic acid (madecassic acid). Other constituents include centellose, centelloside, and madecassoside.

  ពុត​លំញង/ Pea  Eggplant, a native to Cambodia. It was naturalized in the South Pacific, Asia, and Australia and was first introduced to the United States as a potential food crop in 1899 and was naturalized in Florida by 1930. Today Cluster eggplant can be found at Asian market, seasonally in some regions across the USA.  Different variety of Pea eggplant.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304423814004774

(Gynura Procumbens) commonly known as Longevity Spinach is one of the most treasures herb among Hmong people and its community. This herbs is used in many Hmong traditional dishes. It is also used in conjunction with other herbs to aid mom with new birth in a 30 days postpartum regimen. In the USA, It is a must have herb in backyard growing of very Hmong household and community. Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. is a well-known plant used in folklor medicine in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, hypertension, inflammation, fever, and skin disorders. Research has shown different chemicals including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, steroids, proteins, and polysaccharides, have been isolated from this plant.  Gynura Procumbens is an all green with vascular plant. Leave is simple, entire,  lanceolate, with a smooth and glossy apparent.   Native to China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Cultivate in many other countries for its culinary and medicinal value. Tender leaves a

(Gynura Crepioides) an all green variety, commonly known as Okinawa Spinach is one of the most treasures herb among Hmong people and its community. This herbs is used in many Hmong traditional dishes. It is also used in conjunction with other herbs to aid mom with new birth in a 30 days postpartum regimen. In the USA, It is a must have herb in backyard growing of very Hmong household and community. I have and grow two variation of this velvety Gynura species. One is an all-green, and the other is a bi-color with purple underside. Both are covered with fine haired and feel somewhat velvety.  Native to China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and neighboring countries. Cultivate in many other countries for its culinary and medicinal value. Tender leaves and shoots is harvested and eaten raw or cooked.  It is rich iron, calcium,  potassium,  and vitamin A. A perennial in tropical and subtropical climate. I grow them outdoors with overhead protection year round in an arid climate of USDA z

Gynura scandens O.Hoffm. is  an all green slightly velvety variety. Commonly known as Okinawa Spinach is one of the most treasures herb among Hmong people and its community. This herbs is used in many Hmong traditional dishes. It is also used in conjunction with other herbs to aid mom with new birth in a 30 days postpartum regimen. In the USA, It is a must have herb in backyard growing of very Hmong household and community. This variation of Gynura species overall feels, looks, growths habits,  environmental needs are the same.  From my personal experience, I believe G. Scandens is closely related to G. Crepioides.   Both are covered with fine fuzzy hairs and feel somewhat velvety.  Native to China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and neighboring countries. Cultivate in many other countries for its culinary and medicinal value. Tender leaves and shoots is harvested and eaten raw or cooked.  It is rich iron, calcium,  potassium,  and vitamin A. A perennial in tropical and subtropical

(Sedum sarmentosum). Its features lends it the common name Stringy or Trailing Stonecrop, while the blooms lend it the names Yellow Moss, Star Sedum, or Gold Moss.  Among the Hmong community it is used in conjunction with herbs for medicinal purpose to treat fatigue during the early stages of pregnancy.  A native of the tropical Asia.  An edible ground-cover plant. It's a crisp and tender succulent like plants.  My family use it in many Khmer dishes. Soups, Salads, or as wraps in dipping paste/sauce (Khmer Pesto).

(Glinus Oppositifolius) cây càng tôm,  ប្រមាត់ដី literally translated to "Earth-Bile". Also know as Sweetjuice.  The Khmers uses it in stew or a quick blanched as wraps in dipping sauce (Khmer Pesto). A native to Cambodia.  An Annual thrive in the summer season.  It is found growing in different soils and conditions. Sandy, moist, and drought field  It's a small sprawling bitter medicinal leafy green that grow flush to the ground. Whole plant is fuzzy and bitter.  It's an all basal leaflets. Bears white or pinkish flowers.