Afrosolen coerulea

Family: Iridaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a bulb or corm. The corm is cone shaped with a flat bottom. It has a covering of net like fibres. It is 12-16 mm across at the base. It is an erect plant and keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 40 cm high. It can form stands of one plant. Their are 2-4 leaves and they re 2-4 mm wide. The upper leaves get smaller. The leaves are corrugated. The flowers are blue with a yellow throat. They are in a loose group with 3-5 flowers on each branch.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It is often in seasonally waterlogged and poorly drained locations. It can be in sandy, loam or clay soils. It grows between sea level and 1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The corm is eaten raw. It is also used in vegetable dishes. They can be pounded and cooked with water, fat or milk. It is popular roasted in the ashes.

It is an appreciated food.

Edible parts

Corm, bulb, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Onduvi, Onyengulushe

Synonyms

Lapeirousia coerulea Schinz; Psilosiphon coeruleus (Schinz) Goldblatt & Manning;