Polygonum cognatum, commonly called Madimak (from Turkish madımak) or Indian knotgrass, is an edible (by people of Turkey) weedy creeping perennial herb in the genus Polygonum. It has distinct large leaves (compared with other Polygonums)
Description
Perennial, prostrate or ascending branched herb, 15-30 cm long with a thick stout root stock. Stems prostrate, green like the leaves. Leaves oblong-elliptic, petiolate, often slightly mucronate. Flowers in fascicles in the leaf axils. Perianth pinkish, 4-5 mm, hardening and accrescent in fruit. Nut glossy, included in the perianth[2].
Habitat
Irano-Turanian Region or Iran-Turan Plant Geography Region element, grows between 3000-5600 m on rocky and drier slopes; distribution: Central to Western Asia, Turkey, Caucasia (Georgia), Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan[3]. The madimak is a weed found in both agricultural and non-agricultural areas.
Cuisine
The madimak is one of the widely known traditional edible plants in Turkey particularly
Central Anatolia Region. To be able compensate increasing demand easily and supply the plant to the markets, farmers started cultivating madimak in
Central Anatolia[4].
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