KangKong – Scientific name: Ipomea aquatica Torsk

kangkong

English: Potato Vine, Swamp Cabbage;
Tagalog: Kangkong

A smooth, widely spreading vine, with the stems trailing on mud or floating on water. Leaves are oblong-ovatem 7-14 cm long, with a pointed tip and heart- or arrow-shaped base, long petiole, the margins entire or angular, and sub-lobed. The peduncles are erect, 2.5 to 5 cm long, with 1 or 2 flowers in the axis of the leaves. Sepals are green, oblong, about 8 mm. The corolla is narrowly bell-shaped, about 5 mm long, and purplish with the tube deeper purple inside.

Distribution
Throughout the Philippines in stagnant streams, fresh-water swamps, and pools.

Parts used and preparation
Young leaves and stems

Nutritional Uses
Young leaves and stems eaten as a leafy vegetable.
Young stems popular as achara (native pickles) ingredient.
Good sources of iron, calcium, vitamins B and C.
Tops are mildly laxative. The purplish variety used for diabetes because of assumed insulin-like principle it contains. Juice used as emetic. Dried latex is purgative. Poultice of buds used for ringworm.

7 thoughts on “KangKong – Scientific name: Ipomea aquatica Torsk

  1. ed hidalgo

    hi, your website is great. it gives me good information on the good aspects of our medicinal plants.

    however, i believe you should also include the bad side of those medicinal plants…for example, mangga is not good for diabetics because it is rich in sugar, etc. (is it?)

    indicating the bad aspects of all our medicinal plants will be a rich source of knowledge for all.

    this way, one can be careful or can avoid eating that plant, and go to another medicinal plant as its substiture.

    thank you and more power to you.

  2. Elizabeth Saldia Coughlan

    Is anybody familiar with the Himag tree which can be found only in certain parts of the Philippines? It is supposed to be very effective against many serious illness.

  3. George A. Rabanal

    Kangkong (Potato Vine, Swamp Cabbage) was the most abundant especially in the ares where people has difficulty in living. A very delicious plant which compose of many Vitamins and Minerals. Most poor people eat it because they can afford it. Also, it can be eaten by rich people.

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