Cakwa
Wahlenbergia abyssinica

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow each year from seed or keep growing from year to year from the taproot. This taproot can become long and woody. The stems are 12-90 cm long. They can be erect or lying over. There can be curled hairs. The leaves are 8-75 mm long by 1-12 mm wide. They are alternate and do not have leaf stalks. The leaf edges can be thickened or curved backwards. The flowers have a ring or cup shaped structure with 10 veins. The flower tube is blue, white or yellow. The fruit is a capsule with 3 sections. It is 3-6 mm long. The seeds are 0.5 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and grassland. It is usually on sandy or rocky soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The swollen root is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lightfootia abyssinica A. Rich.; Lightfootia abyssinica var. tennis Oliver; Lightfootia arenicola Meikle; Lightfootia divaricata Engl.; Lightfootia elata Chiov.; Lightfootia ellenbeckii Engl.; Lightfootia grandifolia Engl.; Lightfootia madagascarensis A. DC.; Lightfootia ruprestris Engl.; Lightfootia sodenii Engl.; Lightfootia subulata Engl.;