Bush buck
Gongronema latifolium

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A small woody climber or vine. It has a tuberous base. It grows 2-5 m tall. The stems are hollow and the roots are fleshy. The leaves are broadly oval with a heart shaped base. The flowers are small and yellowish-green.

There are 5 Gongronema species. They are in Africa. It has also been put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous and secondary forests in West Africa. It is often along river banks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are used in soup and used in salads. They are used to flavour meat. The fresh leaves bitter but less so if dried.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from stem cuttings. They can also be grown from seed. Seeds germinate in about 6 days.

In Central African Republic it flowers in March and fruits in November.

Its other names

Local names

Aborode-aborode, Arokeke, Gasub, Odashe, Odashi, Otashi, Utasi, Utazi

Synonyms

Marsdenia latifolia K. Schum.;