Bitterleaf
Centrapalus pauciflorus
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
An erect annual herb. It can grow 1.5 m tall. The stems are straight and leafy.
Possibly edible. The seeds are used to extract an industrial oil.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and savannah woodland. It can grow in flooded rice crops and other disturbed areas.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
Centrapalus galamensis Cass.; Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less.; Vernonia pauciflora (Willd.) Less. [Illegitimate]; and others