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Asclepias albens

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It can lie along the ground. The leaves are simple and oval. They are on short stalks. They are hairy on both surfaces. There are many flowers in a flat topped group at the top of the plant. They are green with yellow centres. They have a scent. The fruit are 5 cm long. They have fleshy ridges and a beak at the tip.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows between 10-1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten. CAUTION: It contains milky sap which contains poisonous glycosides.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. They do not transplant easily.

Its other names

Local names

Idoyi, Ishongwe, Tshalale, Umdzayi

Synonyms

Gomphocarpus albens (E. Mey.) Decne.; Pachycarpus albens E. Mey.; Xysmalobium albens (E. Mey.) D. Dietr.;