Polygonum cognatum, commonly called Indian knotgrass or madimak (from Turkish madñmak), is an edible weedy creeping perennial herb in the genus Polygonum, frequently eaten by people of Turkey. It has larger leaves than most other species of Polygonum.
Polygonum cognatum is a perennial, prostrate or ascending branched herb, 15âÂÂ30 cm long with a thick stout root stock. Stems are prostrate, green like the leaves. Leaves oblong-elliptic, petiolate, often slightly mucronate. Flowers in bundles in the leaf axils. Perianth pinkish, 4âÂÂ5 mm, hardening and accrescent in fruit. Nut glossy, included in the perianth.
Irano-Turanian Region or Iran-Turan Plant Geography Region element, grows between 760 and 5600 meters elevation on rocky and drier slopes; distribution: Central to Western Asia, Turkey, Caucasia (Georgia), Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The madimak is a weed found in both agricultural and non-agricultural areas.
The madimak is one of the widely known traditional edible plants in Turkey particularly Central Anatolia Region. To be able to compensate increasing demand easily and supply the plant to the markets, farmers started cultivating madimak in Central Anatolia.
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