Blyttia fruticulosa

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows up to 80 cm high. The branches are erect, straight and woody. The young leaf bearing branches are grey-green and can be twining and 2 m long. The leaf blade is 7-30 mm long by 1-5 mm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowering stalks are slender and the flowers are white or greenish. The fruit are follicles 3-5 cm long. They are narrowly sword shaped. They have thin walls and hang down.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows between 10-1,500 m above sea level. It grows on sand, silt and rocky soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.

It is a minor plant.

Edible parts

Vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Lamtta

Synonyms

Blyttia arabica Arn.; Cynanchum fruticulosum Decne.; Vincetoxicum fruticulosum (Decne.) Decne.;