Ceropegia multiflora subsp. tentaculata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a climber and has a corm. It is a succulent plant and keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2 m high. The lower leaves are slender and 7 cm long. The upper ones are more broad and shorter. They are fleshy. The flowers are densely clustered in the axils of the leaves. They are pale yellow. They are 1 cm long. The corolla lobes. The fruit are 16 cm long in 2 follicles. The tubers are 8-12 cm across and are 15-20 cm below the ground.

There are about 160-200 Ceropegia species. Probably now in Apocynaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the Kalahari. In southern Africa it grows between 800-1,600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tuber is eaten raw. It is mashed with other greens. The tubers are also baked in the ashes. The leaves are also occasionally eaten raw.

The tubers are highly valued.

Edible parts

Tuber, leaves, root

How it is grown

Tubers are available all year round.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ceropegia tentaculata N. E. Br.;