Rungia klossii S.Moore

A herb. Rungia is a small clumpy much branched leafy vegetable. Dark green and yellow and green marked leaf colours occur. It grows to about 40 cm high. It produces a pale blue flower. At least 20 different varieties occur being distinguished by size, shape and colour of leaves.

A tropical plant. It mostly grows from 1000 to 2000 metres altitude but will grow down to sea level and up to 2,700 m. It is only known naturally from Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya.

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked.

Plants are grown from rooted stems or cuttings. It only occurs as a cultivated plant. Some feral and relatively short lived plants can be found in old garden sites. It needs reasonably fertile soil, preferably moist but will grow in most soils. The young leaf tips are eaten raw or cooked. It requires a fairly fertile soil and a damp area. Plants are put about 5
 apart. It is mostly grown in mixed cropping situations with sweet potato or Setaria pitpit. The plant is grown from cuttings which are about 25 cm long and a clump are sown together. These stems often already have roots developing from the nodes or quickly develop roots. Rungia is planted at any time of the year. Regular picking keeps branches short and productive of leaves. It grows reasonably slowly. Once established the young tips (2 or 3 leaves) are picked regularly. The shoot tips and upper leaves are harvested starting about 2-4 months after planting and continuing at 1-2 monthly intervals for 2 years or more. Regular picking keeps branches short and productive of leaves.