Houttuynia cordata Thunb.

Herbs (5-)30-60 cm high; rhizomes creeping, thin. Basal part of stems creeping, rooted in whorls at nodes, apical part erect, glabrous or pubescent on nodes, sometimes purplish red.Stipular sheath (0.5-)1-2.5 cm, 1/4-1/2 as long as petiole, usually ciliate, base enlarged and slightly clasping; petiole (0.7-) 1-3.5(-4) cm, glabrous; leaf blade broadly ovate orovate-cordate, (1.5-)4-10 × (1.8-)2.5-6 cm, thinly papery, densely glandular, usually glabrous, sometimes pubescent at vein axils, usually purplish abaxially, base cordate, apex shortlyacumi nate; veins 5-7, basal or innermost pair arising ca. 5 mm above base, if 7-veined, then outermost pair very slender or inconspicuous; reticulate veins ± conspicuous. Inflorescences (0.4-)1.5-2.5(-2.7) cm × (2-)5-6 mm; peduncles 1.5-3 cm, subglabrous; involucral bracts oblong or obovate, (5-)10-15 × (3-)5-7 mm, apex rounded. Bract beneath each flower linear, terete,inconspicuous. Stamens longer than ovary. Capsule 2-3 mm, with persistent styles. Fl. Apr-Sep, fr. Jun-Oct. 2n = 24*, 96.

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.

The leaves are used to flavour dishes of raw fish. The leaves are eaten in salads. They can be stored for 2-3 days. The tender shoots and leaves including flowers are cooked as a vegetable and also pickled. They are used in chutney and to flavour curries. The rhizome is eaten as a vegetable raw or cooked. It is made into chutney. The fruit is eaten.

Plants can be grown from seed or division of the clump. It spread and covers the ground. It can be grown from tip cuttings.