Adenia wightiana

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A climber. It grows 8 m long. It has a tuberous rootstock. The leaves are grey-green and can be deeply lobed with 3-5 lobes. They are 12 cm long by 11 cm wide. There can be teeth long the edge. The flower stalks are 2-15 cm long. The male flowers can be in groups of 30 and the female flowers in groups of 2-6. There are tendrils. There are 1-2 fruit per flower. They are oval and 2-3 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are red. There are 10-25 seeds.

There are 95 Adenia species. They are common in the semiarid regions of Africa.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, East Africa, India, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. CAUTION: The roots and fruits are reported as poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kanvalikizanghu, Vidari

Synonyms

Modecca wightiana Wall. ex Wight & Arn.