Kattukkodi (Cocculus hirsutus)

Kattukkodi is broom creeper, a hairy, twining wild climber of hedges and scrub across dry India. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh its leaves are crushed in water, which sets into a green jelly eaten as a cooling summer food. Hindi calls it jaljamni, water that sets. It is a different plant from patha, Cissampelos pareira, another climber of the same family.

Botanical name: Cocculus hirsutus (L.) W.Theob.
Family: Menispermaceae
Tamil: Kattukkodi
Hindi: Jaljamni
Parts used: Leaf, Root in lists
Habit: Hairy broom creeper whose leaves set water into a jelly
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Kattukkodi

It is a slender, woody, twining climber, covered in soft hairs on stems and leaves.

The leaves are oval to slightly heart-shaped, often with a small point at the tip, and very variable in size.

Tiny greenish-yellow flowers grow in small clusters, male and female on separate plants.

The fruits are small round berries that ripen purple-black, each with a curled, ridged seed.

Patha has rounded, shield-like leaves attached to the stalk from underneath.

Traditional use of Kattukkodi

Kitchen

Fresh leaves are crushed in water and strained; the liquid sets in an hour into a green jelly eaten with sugar or jaggery.

Tamil and Telugu food practice

Folk use

The jelly is taken as a cooling food in summer and for heat-related complaints.

South Indian folk practice

Ayurveda

The root is listed under the name patalagarudi in some Ayurvedic and folk texts.

Indian folk and Ayurvedic texts

Modern notes on Kattukkodi

The leaves contain mucilage, a mix of complex sugars that forms a gel in water.

The plant family, Menispermaceae, includes species with strong alkaloids, so root use needs caution.

Laboratory studies on extracts exist, but there is no reliable clinical evidence.

Kattukkodi safety

The leaf jelly is a traditional food; make it with clean water and eat it fresh. Do not use the root as medicine without a trained practitioner.

Ecology and sourcing

It grows across tropical Africa and Asia in dry scrub and hedges.

Birds eat the black berries.

It survives drought from a woody rootstock.

Related plants

Also in Menispermaceae

Questions about Kattukkodi

How is the jelly made?

Crush leaves in water, strain, and let it set.

Why does Kattukkodi set?

The leaves are rich in mucilage.

Is Kattukkodi the same as patha?

No. Patha is Cissampelos pareira.

What does jaljamni mean?

Water that sets, after the jelly.

Is Kattukkodi a weed?

It grows wild on hedges and scrub.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.