Blue leaf, Bladder bush
Gomphocarpus glaucophyllus

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

An unbranched herb. It grows 1 m tall. The stems are thick and have a few hairs. There is milky sap. The leaves are simple and do not have stalks. They are oval and heart shaped at the base. They are blue-green. The flowers are in a group with equal length stalks form one point. They are cream-coloured and 4 cm long with 7-15 flowers in the group The fruit is a follicle tapering to a point.

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bloumelkbos, Gunaperi, Gunatela, Gwendere, Melkbos, Umbohlobohlo

Synonyms

Asclepias glaucophyllus (Schltr.) Schltr.; Asclepias lilacina Weim.;