Camel bush, Cattle bush
Trichodesma zeylanicum

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A soft herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It is usually 50 cm high but can grow to 1 m high. The leaves are large and opposite in pairs up the stem. The leaves are thick and have distinct veins. They taper to the base with little or no stalk. The stem and leaves are hairy. The flowers are pale purple or white. They hang down in groups like small bells. Each flower has 5 petals.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It grows in open woodlands and along creeks. It grows in low and medium rainfall areas. It can grow in very sandy soil. In Tanzania it grows up to 1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Fiji, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Pacific, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are chopped and cooked and eaten. They are also added to beer to assist with fermentation. The seeds yield and edible oil.

It has low palatability.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Young leaves are collected early in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Bluecurls, Dungumwamba, Heternuria, Jalashirasi, Jalasirasa, Jhingi, Jilarga, Lumuanba, Makace, Northern bluebell, Nyiragasaambu, Rough bluebell, Sesemranda, Thilungo, Tirupsing

Synonyms

?ceylanicum; Borago zeylanica Burm.;