Mondia, White's Ginger
Mondia whitei
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A vigorous, perennial, climbing shrub known as Mondia or White’s Ginger (Mondia whitei) is grown in tropical Africa for a wide range of uses including food, medicine, or fiber. It grows about 8 m long and has a large and tuberous rootstock. The leaves are large and opposite, characterized by purple lower-surface veins. The flowers are reddish-purple with a green edge and are short-lived. Edible parts are the leaves (fresh, dried, or cooked) and the fruits. The roots are used as food flavoring. Mondia is a valued medicinal plant especially for its roots. It is an aphrodisiac and also used against stomach pain, indigestion, constipation, and anorexia, and as appetite stimulant. Urinary infections, jaundice, cough, bronchitis, gonorrhea, and other conditions can also be treated using the roots. The stem yield fiber used to make ropes and a fine thread.
Mondia whitei is an evergreen Climber growing to 8 m (26ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Flies. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 8
Where it is found
Found in a variety of habitats, ranging from humid forest, riverine forest, swamp forest and forest margins to humid or semi-dry savannah, sometimes along river banks, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,000 metres.
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan and Kenya, south to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Congo R, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
The fresh or dried leaves are cooked, sometimes with peanut butter, and eaten as a vegetable. The dried powdered leaves are added to food as a condiment. The vanilla-like odour may have potential as a novel African fragrance or spice. The fruits are considered edible in some parts of Africa, although in southern Africa the seeds are used as an arrow poison. The roots are used to flavour food and tea. They are also used to make an energizing drink for wedding parties and a ginger-like beer.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.
Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.
Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.
Medicine
Rating: 4
The plant is widely used medicinally throughout its range, the root especially being valued. Relatively little research on the active compounds in the plant has been effected. The roots contain 1 - 1.2% of an essential oil, 2.8% of a fixed oil, 20% glucose, 0.7% resin and 0.045% of a glycoside. The essential oil causes inflammation and reddening of the skin, irritation of the mucous membranes and relaxes mammalian intestinal smooth muscles. Hexane, methanol and water extracts of the leaves and roots did not show any antibacterial activity against a range of human pathogens. The hexane and methanol extracts showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. An aqueous root extract showed moderate activity against Schistosoma haematobium. An aqueous root bark extract at 400 mg/kg/day given orally during 8 days increased testosterone production and fertility of male rats An aqueous root extract administered to human spermatozoa in vitro was found to enhance total motility as well as progressive motility in a time-dependent manner. Both the roots and the root bark have a pronounced vanilla-like odour and taste like a mixture of liquorice and ginger.They are anodyne, aphrodisiac, appetizer, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, purgative, restorative, stomachic, tonic and uterine stimulant. The root is especially highly valued throughout Africa as an aphrodisiac - the fresh or dried roots are chewed to treat sexual weakness, prevent premature ejaculation and to increase sperm production. A decoction or infusion is widely taken to treat digestive troubles including gastro-intestinal problems, stomach-ache, indigestion, constipation, anorexia, and as a restorative and appetite stimulant. The decoction is also used to treat a wide range of other conditions, including urinary infections, gonorrhoea, jaundice, coughs, bronchitis, chest complaints, headache, paralysis and epileptic attacks, depression, to relieve body pains and to treat fits in children. The root is pulverized and added to porridge in order to treat schistosomiasis. A plant extract is taken to treat malaria. The leaves are squeezed in water and the filtrate is drunk to stop heavy post partum bleeding.T A leaf decoction is drunk to stop vomiting.
Antidepressant: Used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia and anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder.
Antiemetic: Prevents vomiting.
Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.
Aphrodisiac: Increases the sexual appetite.
Appetizer: Improves the appetite
Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.
Digestive: Aids digestion.
Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.
Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
Malaria: Treats malaria - an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites spread to people through the bites of mosquitos.
Parasiticide: Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in
Purgative: A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain.
Restorative: Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity.
Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.
Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.
Urinary: Treats urinary problems, including urinary tract infection (UTI).
Other
Rating: 2
Agroforestry Uses: The plant is grown to reinforce enclosures. Other Uses A fibre obtained from the stem yields a strong rope and a fine thread. The woody parts of the root are used as chewing sticks.
Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.
Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Parasiticide: Kills external body parasites such as hair lice.
String: Plants that can be used for string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre. Plants for ropes may be included.
Teeth: Plants used to clean and care for the teeth.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
The flowers have a slightly fruity, unpleasant odour, which becomes stronger in the afternoons. They remain open for between 3 and 4 days and are probably pollinated by flies. Bloom Color: Red Cream/Tan. Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm).
Propagating it: Seed - Stem cuttings. Root cuttings.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Climber
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
The seeds are used as a substitute for Strophanthus seeds in the preparation of arrow poison. The latex is also added to Strophanthus arrow poison.
Its other names
Local names
Mondia, White's Ginger, Lacadje, Muombo, Nhavoma, Ogombo, Omurondwa, Pados, assase hwam, la racine, lufute lwa matwi, mbombongazi, tonicroot, umondi, white's ginger, white's-ginger, white’s ginger..