Lakpura® Kohila Dadu are lengths of kohila stem (කොහිල දඩු), cut from Lasia spinosa, the spiny wetland plant whose rhizome and young leaves are cooked across Sri Lanka. They are sold for planting: a way to start your own patch of kohila rather than buying the vegetable at market.
Kohila spreads by a creeping, underground stem, and new plants are raised from sections of it. The stem sends out side shoots, and once these are separated and set in the ground they grow on into plants of their own. The pieces in the pack are firm, mottled lengths of stem with traces of leaf and root still attached, vacuum-sealed so they travel well.
Kohila belongs to wet places, and the planting guide printed on the pack asks for a moist spot with nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Dig the bed over deeply, lay each piece horizontally or slightly tilted with any sprout facing up, and cover it lightly with loose soil or compost. Keep the soil moist but do not overwater, since standing wet can rot the stems, and give the young plants partial shade where the sun is strong.
Once established, the plant is hardy and needs little looking after beyond moist soil and the occasional weeding, which is why village gardens across Sri Lanka keep a clump of it. As it matures you can harvest its stems and leaves as needed, the tender young leaves for mallum and the rhizome for curries. Its prickles make it easy to recognise, so handle the stems with care.
