Kh'merican Backyard Gardening. Vegetables and Herbs

(Capsicum annuum var. Galbriusculum) 'ម្ទេសខ្មាំង' (in Khmer). Also known as Chiltepine, Flea chilles, and  Bird pepper.   Chiltepin  plant is believed to be the prehistoric  wild chile plant from which all but two have evolved. And the two being Habanero and Tobacco peppers.  Chiltepin plants are still found growing in the wild and is being protected at  Coronado National Forest, and a couple of other U.S. national parks. The fruits is  tiny but  packes with mighty heat, measuring at 50,000 to 1,628,000 on Scoville unit. The tiny  ornamental fruits and scarlett red color is an attraction for birds.  Wild birds is believed to have dispersed   seeds across the prehistoric Americas.  This prehistoric wild chilli is a native to the USA. A state official pepper plant of Texas.     A perennial in warm regions. Frost sensitive. Given a suitable environment Chiltepin can grow up to over 9ft tall, can live up to 35-50 years old. Found grown in clay or sandy soil. Reaching maturity rang

(Alternanthera philoxeroides) commonly called Alligatorweed, Indian Ponnanganni Keerai, Ponnaganti Koora, Honnagone. A rare find in the USA.  It might be a noxious weeds to the Western culture but it's a culinary plant in my Kitchen. Tender shoots is harvested and eaten as vegetables. Mostly done in traditional ddishes. It is both culinary and medicinal plant. And is sparingly use  in Asia,  India,  and other part of the world.  This tropical edible is hardy  in a Mediterranean climate of USDA zone 9a. Suitable for container or in-grounds planting.  Thrive in wetlands. Full sun or partially shade. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/6/1656 (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Alligatorweed (Alternanthera sessilis) Ponnanganni Keerai / Garundi / Guroo / Honagone 

(Premna serratifolia) Cây Lá Cách "Headache plant" is an herbaceous plant that is well-loved among Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysians, and Indonesian. Tender leaves is harvested and eaten as veggies raw and fresh  in wraps with grilled meats. Or a quick blanched in soup,  stew, and stir fry dish. (Premna serratifolia) is a rare find in the West.  A tender perennial in USDA zone 9a with overhead protection in the cold winter months.  (Premna serratifolia) Cây Lá Cách is an evergreen small vascular shrub.  Leave has a mooth and glossy apparent, with prominent grooved along ribs. Has tiny yellowish-green flowers in small clusters. Apparent of ripened fruits is a dark purple resemble that of a java plump.   Leaves is lightly slimy when chew.  With a peculiar aromatic when crushed. It reminds me of that of a Piper betel. Oct. 10th, 21 Flower buds July 10th, 21 July 🌻🌼 October,  2020

(Gynura divaricata) also known as  Chinese Gynura,  白子菜, Gynura Bicolor, or Cholesterol 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. There's much confusions on the internet. But after researching and reading countless articles, armed with plants on-hands  and  the on-going encounter with traditional practice in daily life of Hmong people I'm certain that a name listed by a Botanist at Hong Kong zoological and botanical gardens is an authentic and recognized botanical name. (Gynura divaricata) sometimes mislabeled as  G. Crepioides, G. Procumbens, or G. Pseudochina. I personally believe that Gynura. divaricata is the closest relative to G. Procumbens, it's like a sister plant. Besides the p

(Bacopa monnieri), Rau Dang, Water Hyssop. An aquatic leafy greens that is well-loved by my great-grandparents. A table condiment he served with a traditional Khmer dish calls Bok Tuk-Grueng or Bok Um-Prix (a Khmer Chutney). A concoction of roasted Cluster Eggplant, Chilies,  Garlic,  Shallot,  and grilled fish.  Season with baked Braw-Hok (fermented fish paste),  a dash of salt, sugar, MSG, and lime juice to taste. An aquatic perennial native to tropical Asia.  It thrive on wetlands or in water. Foliage will reach and prawls afloat the water surface.  Can be grown in full sun or partially  shade. This bitter greens is well-loved by SE Asian community. It is harvested and eaten raw or cooked. In Soup, Stew,  Stir fry,  and a quick blanched. 

កញ្ជល់ភ្នំ, ម្ជុលភ្នំ, ជន្ទុលភ្នំ (Marsilea Quadrifolia) is an aquatic herbaceous induginous wild food that is well-loved by Khmer people. My great-grandparents served it in a traditional Khmer dish calls Bok Tuk-Grueng or Bok Um-Prix (a Khmer Chutney). A concoction of roasted Pea eggplant, Chilies,  Garlic,  Shallot,  and grilled fish.  Season with bake fermented fish paste,  a dash of Salt Sugar,  MSG, and lime juice to taste.  កញ្ជល់ភ្នំ (Marsilea Quadrifolia) is an aquatic herbaceous native to Cambodia.  Can be grown on wetlands or in water. Foliage will reach and prawls afloat water surface.  Can be grown in full sun or shade.