Aserkush
Cyphostemma adenocaule

Family: Vitaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb. It has annual stems from a swollen rootstock. It can climb 7.5 m high. The flowers are pink to red. They can be white, green or yellow. The fruit are red to black. They are oval and 6-8 mm long by 4-6 mm wide.

They are tropical plants.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in savannah in West Africa. It grows between sea level and 2,280 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable and in soups. They taste sour. The stems are cut to release drinking water. The fruit are acid and eaten and used in soups. The roots are boiled and eaten. They are also sliced and dried and stored. They can be stored for 1-2 months.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, tubers, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Agana, Anaya, Anunu, Awuliakongo, Ayaka, Bombeye, Deda ako, Emorosi, Emoross, Gnainrisse angbaman, Gobia, Inkorodo, Mendengele, Mtoromola, Mubata mukundo, Mwengele, Nimos, Nimus, Okoto, Ombeye, Tiyankwounti, Umushaariita

Synonyms

Cissus adenocaulis Steud. ex A. Rich.;