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Nowadays, decorating and beautifying some sections of building structures using plants are part and parcel of the development.  Even the simple kampung houses have plants all over the place including their doorways, sitting rooms, window sills and even their washrooms.

This may sound amazing but it is true.  Don’t believe?  Just go driving and nosing around rural homes, and you will be surprised that even some proud urbanites with that shallow sense of superiority have to admit and accept the stark difference.

This shows that rural kampung folks are growing less and less backward and are increasingly less mired in abject poverty.  They are advancing in various ways such as capitalising on rural agro-tourism, leveraging on agricultural produce collection centres, working on kitchen gardens, etc.  

They are struggling to climb out of poverty which is what many government agencies, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture, are trying to implement and achieve.

Kudos to such exemplary and hardworking agencies and officers.  It is therefore not too much to expect the outstanding ones to be rewarded with a SPDK, or at least, PGDK this year.

That said, it must be agreed that plants have become a very significant part of human livelihood.  In the non-commercial settings, plants may be used in a small scale to supply individual or family needs to meet decorative or beautification purposes.  

On the other hand, plants may be commercialised as in nursery productions where they are sold in various styles and formations.  

And yet, another source of plants - an everyday type – that may be destined for the kuali, may be derived from home gardens in the backyard or front yard, or even from the potted plants or those in hanging baskets.  

These are the simple leafy and fruit vegetables that everyone is capable of growing to meet kitchen needs and also to save a few bucks for some other purposes.

There is nothing magical about pulling edibles from the soil and hauling them right into the kitchen.  Such kitchen gardens are no more mind-boggling ideas as thousands of Sabahans especially those living in the kampungs have been doing it since ages ago.

The difference is that kitchen gardens produce fresh yields that are mainly for the kitchen whereas plants from ornamental gardens are mainly for sale or for decorative purposes.  However, this does not mean that decorative plants have no place in the kitchen, or on the table.

In fact, there are so many beautiful plants that serve to decorate and improve the sight of the locations they are placed in, both indoors and outdoors.  

For example, money plant or Scindapsus aureus, mother-in-law’s tongue and Japanese bamboo are popular plants that are widely used for both exposed and covered areas. 

With money plants, the use is very flexible as they can be cultured in water in bottles or small glass jars and placed at strategic locations.  Plants of the Japanese bamboo and mother-in-law’s tongue may also be cultivated and displayed in a number of ways to please one’s eyes.

The positive point is that having such plants is affordable and definitely they do not burn through your pockets.

However, there is yet another ornamental plant that is available to serve a multitude of purposes ranging from the kuali to the kitchen table, to sitting room, bedroom or washroom, or some other outdoor locations.

This variety of plant is known as Leafy Variegated Polyscias.  There are about 18 synonyms all of which are mindboggling and tongue-twisting words but the plant is not complicated at all, easy to handle and grows well under normal gardening conditions.

Leafy variegated polyscias are small terrestrial woody perennial shrubs to small trees that grow well under warm tropical climatic conditions.  

They are cherished mainly for their attractive variegated round to slightly oblong leaves that are coloured in blotches of white to greenish yellow.  These two are signature characteristics of the plant which contribute to its easy identification and recognition.  

There are other varieties of ornamentals that also have patterned leaves and these may include coleus, caladium, acalypha, croton and fittonia.  However, the leaf patterns are visibly different from those of polyscias.

While most leafy variegated polyscias are seen as small potted shrubs with stem diameter at base of 1-2 cm, the older and larger specimens especially those grown on the ground or in large jars may achieve diameters of 5-10 cm.  

Mature plants grown on the ground may reach a height of 5-6 metres while the spread of the crown may reach 2-3 metres.

In the outdoors, leafy variegated polyscias are often used in container gardens, hedges, open gardens, parks, screens or hedge plantings. On the other hand, indoor cultivation of the plant invariably involves a variety of pots, jars and baskets.

These allow for the relocation of the plants from one spot to another according to the needs of the situation.

With respect to the uses of the plant, there are a number of traditional medicinal uses that can be derived from the leaves, stems and roots.  But the one most often used is in the kitchen.  

This is where the young leaves and tender shoots are harvested from the plant and then stir fried in a kuali with a couple of spoonfuls of chilli paste, belacan, ikan bilis or dried prawns.

Such a dish is certainly going to be a huge appetiser, especially if it is washed down with tapai or lihing.

# The above writer may be reached at: onggrow@yahoo.com