Chasmanthera welwitschii

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

A woody creeper. It grows 30 m long. The branches are hairy and hang down. The leaves are alternate and simple and very hairy. The leaf stalk is 12-14 cm long. The leaf blade is almost round or 5 angled. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves and these hang down. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are 3 fleshy sections join together. They are 1.2 cm long by 1 cm wide. There is one seed in each section.

It is used in traditional medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dense evergreen and semi-deciduous forest in humid areas. It occurs at low and medium altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Zambia

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Adumasa, Agbetu, Agietu, Ndende, Tonga to boliki, Tongatobolondi

Synonyms

Chasmanthera strigosa Welw. ex Hiern [Illegitimate];