Dipcadi longifolium

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A bulb herb. The leaves are twisted. It grows 20-90 cm high. The bulb is 1-4 cm across. There are 2-7 leaves. They are narrow and 75 cm long by 3-9 mm wide. The flowering stalks are 60 cm high. There are 4-15 flowers They are yellowish green. The fruit is a capsule 8-15 mm long by 13018 mm wide. The seeds are 5-7 mm long.

They have also been put in the families Hyacinthaceae and Liliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in the savannah. In East Africa it grows between 1,000-1,350 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The bulbs and leaves are eaten raw after pounding.

A staple food of the Bushmen.

Edible parts

Leaves, bulb

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Enequeneque

Synonyms

Dipcadi anthericoides Engl. & Gilg.; Dipcadi firmifolium Baker; Dipcadi kerstingii Dammer; Dipcadi tacazzaenum - in Morton, not (Hochst) ex A. Rich. Bak.; Dipcadi sansibaricum Engl.; Dipcadi venenatum Schinz; Dipcadi zambesiacum Baker; Ornithogalum longifolium (Lindl.) J. C. Manning & Goldblatt; Uropetalum longifolium Lindl.;