Deciduous, densely-branched, rounded shrub to 1.5-(3) m high; twigs glabrous and flexible, becoming mottled and brittle. Lvs towards ends of branches on younger wood; petiole short; lamina elliptic to ovate or obovate, (5)-10-20 × (3)-5-15 cm, acuminate, cuneate, coarsely serrate; both surfaces glabrous and greasy, the upper lustrous, the lower dull with a conspicuous network of veins. Corymb broad, flat-topped or convex, much-branched, hairy, up to 20 cm diam., usually largely composed of sterile fls, sometimes with an outer ring of sterile fls and central fls fertile. Sepals of sterile fls petaloid, spreading, broad-elliptic to obovate, 1-2 cm long, pink, blue, white, or greenish. Corolla c. 3 mm diam.; petals minute and incurved, pink or blue. Stamens 10. Ovary enclosed in calyx tube at anthesis, later projecting. Capsule c. 5 mm long.
More
A shrub which loses its leaves. It grows 1.2-1.8 m tall and spreading 1.2-2.5 m wide. The flowers are in large rounded heads. There are now a large number of garden varieties.
The dried rhizomes and roots have been used as a food and a medicine. The leaves when dried and rubbed between the hands become sweet and are used to make a tea. The leaves contain phyllodulcin which may be used as a sugar substitute. Caution: The plant usually contains cyanide making it poisonous unless well cooked.
Home
