Paederia lanuginosa is a species of climbing vine in the coffee family Rubiaceae, native to Southeast Asia and southern China.[1] Common names include woolly sewervine, cheese leaf and skunkvine, owing to the characteristic odour released when the plant is damaged.[2][3] Closely related to a similarly odorous plant Paederia foetida, it is cultivated both for its medicinal uses and as a culinary herb throughout its native range.
Paederia lanuginosa is a perennial woody vine with a climbing or twining growth habit, typical of many tropical Rubiaceae species. The stems twine around supports such as trees, fences or shrubs. If no support is available, it forms dense groundcover mats. Mature vines can reach 3–5 metres, sometimes longer, depending on growing conditions. Young stems are green and soft, becoming slightly woody with age.
The leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem and are typically ovate to lanceolate in shape. They are also covered in fine, soft hairs on both surfaces, giving them a characteristic woolly texture that inspired the species name lanuginosa. The upper surface of the leaves is bright to deep green, while the underside is deep purple and velvety to the touch. When damaged, the leaves release a distinctive sulfurous odour, characteristic of several members of the genus Paederia. This strong scent is produced by sulfur-containing compounds such as methanethiol.
The flowers are small, tubular and typically borne in loose clusters at the ends of branches or in the leaf axils, appearing from July to October. Each flower has a slender corolla tube that opens into five short lobes, usually pale purple, pinkish or white, with a darker violet throat. The flowers are mildly fragrant and attract small insects for pollination. The calyx and outer surfaces of the corolla are often covered with fine hairs, matching the plant’s overall lanuginose texture. Flowering generally occurs during the warmer, humid months, followed by the development of small, round fruits that contain a few seeds and turn brown when mature.
Paederia lanuginosa thrives in warm, humid tropical and subtropical climates, where it commonly grows along forest edges, thickets, roadsides and riverbanks. It prefers well-drained, fertile soils but can tolerate poorer or sandy substrates. The vine grows best in partial shade, although it can adapt to full sun if sufficient moisture is available. The plant typically flourishes during the rainy season, producing vigorous new growth, and remains semi-dormant or less active in cooler or drier periods.
In home gardens, especially in Vietnam and Thailand, it is often trained to climb on trellises or fences, both as an ornamental and to keep the edible leaves accessible.
Uses
In Vietnamese cuisine, the fresh raw leaves are eaten as a vegetable.[5] Known as lá mơ lông or lá mơ tam thể in Vietnamese, it is often paired with grilled, rich, oily or fermented foods such as nem chua, along with leaves of the cluster fig and Ming aralia. The leaves are believed to stimulate digestion when eaten with such foods. Besides raw consumption, the leaves are sautéed, lightly boiled or beaten with eggs to make omelettes. The taste and smell of the leaves have been likened to boiled eggs and Camembert cheese.
The plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine in Vietnam, where it is commonly used to relieve indigestion, bloating, diarrhoea and intestinal discomfort, and the leaves are often consumed during heavy or fermented meals to aid digestion. Modern phytochemical studies have identified iridoid glycosides, flavonoids and sulfur compounds in the leaves, which may contribute to the plant’s antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity, lending partial scientific support to its traditional medicinal use.[6]
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