Water Spinach

Water spinach is a semi-aquatic trailing herb of the morning glory family that grows along ponds, canals and wet fields across South and Southeast Asia, including India. It has hollow stems that float on water, arrow-shaped leaves and white to pale purple funnel-shaped flowers.

Known as Kalambi in Sanskrit, its tender shoots are cooked as a leafy vegetable, and it is described in Ayurvedic dietary texts as a light green with a place in traditional preparations for general wellbeing. The whole plant is used.