Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family)
Common names from flowersofindia.net: Water Morning Glory, Swamp cabbage, aquatic morning glory, Chinese water spinach • Hindi: Nali, कलमी साग Kalmi sag • Manipuri: ꯀꯣꯂꯝꯅꯤ Kolamni • Marathi: नालीची भाजी Nalichi-bhaji • Tamil: Sarkaraivalli • Telugu: Tutikura • Kannada: ನೀರುಬಿಳಿಗಡ್ಡೆ ಹಂಬು Neeru Bili gadde hambu, ನೀರುಹಂಬು Neeru hambu • Bengali: কলমী সাগ Kulmi sag • Oriya: Kalama saga • Konkani: Takasi vel • Sanskrit: Karemu, Kalambi
From my notes: Its called as Vayal chulli(വയൽ ചുള്ളി), vayal cheera(വയൽച്ചീര), valla cheera(വള്ളച്ചീര), naalikam(നാളികം), Kalambi(കലമ്പി), Kaayal Kozhuppa(കായൽക്കൊഴുപ്പ) Neer Muthukk(നീർമുതുക്ക്), Vallal cheera(വള്ളൽ ചീര).
Etymology:
Ipomoea: From Greek: ips or ip- = “worm” and homoios = “resembling”. This refers to the twining, vine-like growth habit of many species in this genus — they “worm” or coil around supports.
aquatica: From Latin aqua = “water”, meaning “of or belonging to water.”
So collectively it is “twining water plant” or “water-loving vine.”
Larval Host Plant
Agrius cingulata – The pink-spotted hawkmoth
Even though it grows like a weed in Kerala, I have never had the pleasure of tasting it while there. During the covid lockdown, I ordered these from Healthy Buddha, and they have since become one of my favorite greens. While there are many recipes to experiment with, I enjoy preparing it for a simple garlic stir-fry which pairs perfectly with rice. It also goes well with prawns, if you are someone who enjoys seafood.
There are commonly 2 varieties found ~ one with narrow leaves which has white flowers and another with little broader leaves(than the white), and has purplish center flowers. Both varieties can be easily grown from cuttings and grows well in damp soil/water bodies. I love rooting the cuttings in a glass of water and replanting them in soil once they are well-rooted.
This greens is usually found in paddy fields or in the water logged areas especially during rainy season. While some do not consume greens during rainy season, some believe that the lesser known locally grown greens are edible. I happened to read Chitrita Banerji’s book ‘Bengali cooking : seasons and festivals‘ in which she mentions about Kalmi as common favorite rainy season(Barsha) greens. A stir fry is made with finely chopped Kalmi saag leaves, pancha phoron(the five spices-cumin(jeera), nigella(kalonji), fenugreek(methi), Wild celery seeds (radhuni) and fennel seeds(saunf)), dry red chillies and garlic chopped.
The nutritionist Aditi Prabhu mentions this spinach has low calories at the same time rich in many micro nutrients like Vitamin A B, C, Calcium, Magnesium..Apart from its many traditional uses from treating for diabetes, constipation, piles, it is also very good for aiding a good sleep.
Recipes
- Stir fry
- Veggies fritters
- Kang kong in garlic sauce – Also called as Rau Muống Xào Tỏi in Vietnamese.
- Chinese water spinach stir fry
- Kang kong with prawns
- Kalmi saag chorchori
- Kolmi Shaak bhaji(Bangladeshi style)
My Insta posts
This is a part of my Edible Greens Series in which I am trying to cover all the things I learnt about the 250+ edible plants that are lesser known, locally grown, generally called as weed.
Before consuming any foraged greens, please go through this precautionary measurements.
A.
MY LITTLE THOUGHTS LANE 
Leave a comment