Clinging aneilema
Aneilema aequinoctiale

Family: Commelinaceae

What it is like

A herb. The stems are soft and weak. They can be trailing. There are many hairs. The leaves have large loose sheaths 2.5 cm long. The leaves are sword shaped and 12 cm long by 4 cm wide. The flowering arrangement is loosely branched. The flowers are yellow and 15 mm long. The fruit are 8 mm long. The surface has very fine beads.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Swaziland it is in the high veld only.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Togo, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw and also cooked. The tuber like root is boiled or roasted.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, salt

How it is grown

It grows from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Damba, Idangamane, Kgoba, Kgopa, Lindzangamane, N'lakisi

Synonyms

Amelina wallichii C. B. Clarke; Aneilema adhaerens Kunth; Commelina aequinoctialis P. Beauv.; and others