Serendipity Berry, Guinea potato
Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

Serendipity Berry or Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii is a perennial climbing plant about 1.8 m long with more or less woody stems that are usually 2m in diameter and twines into other plants for support. It is native to tropical Africa. It is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit and root. The small, sub-ovoid fruit is a drupe that can be consumed raw ? it has mucilaginous pulp that is considered to be the sweetest known naturally occurring substance. The root, on the other hand, is small and yam-like and can be eaten like potatoes. Further, it is considered a sexual stimulant and used to cure wounds. The stem can be used on swollen limbs and as a wash against venereal diseases.

Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii is an evergreen Climber growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1.8

Where it is found

Dense rain-forest and galleried forest, often in old cultivation sites.

Western, central and northeastern tropical Africa.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Togo, West Africa, Zimbabwe,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw. The intensely sweet, mucilaginous pulp of the fruit is considered to be the sweetest known naturally occurring substance - it is up to 3,000 times sweeter than sucrose. It has been recommended as a non-carbohydrate sugar substitute. The fruit can keep for several weeks at room temperature. Roots. Small and yam-like.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Sweetener: includes sugar substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 0

The fruit contains monellin, an intensely sweet protein with potential use as a sugar replacement for diabetics. For humans, monellin is 100,000 times sweeter than sucrose on a molar basis and around 3,000 times on a weight basis.

Other

Rating: 0

Other Uses: None known:

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A tropical dioecious rainforest vine with tuberous underground stems. The fruit can be stored. It will keep for several weeks at room temperature.

Propagating it: Plants can be grown from seed or tubers. Seeds need to germinate in the dark. Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Ito-igbin, Minbagem Ngbi,

Synonyms

Rhopalandria cumminsii Stapf, Rhopalandria lobata C.H.Wright, Dioscoreophyllum jollyanum Pierre ex D