Dinophora spenneroides

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A herb or shrub. It grows 4 m high. It is woody at the base and has many branches. The branches are soft and four sided when young. The leaves are opposite and simple. The leaves are unequal and sword shaped. They are 5-22 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They are usually rounded or heart shaped at the base and taper to the tip. The flowers are in a slender branching group. The fruit are about 1.5 cm across and white. They have several small seeds. The seeds are 1 mm long.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary scrub. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are slightly acid and are cooked and eaten.

The fruit are mainly eaten by children. The leaves are only a minor vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bouam, Ebafonokwa, Essan, Gbarmunu cumlon, Itanganika

Synonyms

Phaeoneuron gracile Hutch. & Dalziel;