Cannabis leaf nettle
Tragia plukenetii

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can grow 1.5-4.5 m tall. The stems can be twining at the tips. The leaves have 3 lobes and are 3-11 cm long and 0.3-2 cm wide. They have coarse teeth. The flowering shoots are opposite the leaves and are 6-8 cm long. The fruit have 3 lobes. They are 4-5 mm long by 7-8 mm wide. The seeds are 2.5-3 mm across. They are orange to red.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows between 20-450 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Congo DR, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Wongrial

Synonyms

Croton hastatus L.; Tragia cannabina L.f.; Tragia cannabina var. hastata (L.) Pax & K. Hoffm.; Tragia involucrata var. cannabina Mull.Arg.; Tragia tripartita Beille;