Boerhavia plumbaginea

Family: Nyctaginaceae

What it is like

A scrambling herb. The stems are tall, erect and smooth or hairy. The stems can be several metres long. They grow from a woody rootstock. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are broadly oval and slightly fleshy. The flowers are trumpet shaped and white. They are in irregular groups. The fruit are 1.3 cm long and have warty sticky glands.

There are about 40 Boerhavia species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dense woodland and on the edges of forests. It is often near water. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, India, Indochina, Mozambique, SE Asia, Senegal, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

It is not very palatable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Maidnika, Mookooty keray, Permarnara

Synonyms

Boerhavia excelsa Willd.; Boerhavia capitata Schweinf.; Boerhavia repanda Kotschy. ex Choisy.; Commicarpus plumbaginea (Cav.) Standl.; Valeriana scandens Forsk.;