Argyrella canescens

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A woody herb. It grows 50-120 cm tall. The leaves are narrowly oval and 1.7-8.5 cm long by 0.3-2.2 cm wide. The flowering shoots are long leafy groups. The flowers have 5 parts. They are red to purple.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo DR, Congo R., Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, cuttings or rooted runners

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Dissotis canescens (Graham) Hook.f.; Dissotis incana Triana; Heterotis canescens (Graham) Jacq.-Fel.; Osbeckia canescens Graham; and others