Eriosema lebrunii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has a few branches. It is 15-30 cm long. It has turnip shaped roots. These are 1.5 cm across by 3 cm long. The stems are slender. They can have a white coating. The leaves have one leaflet. They are 2-10 cm long by 0.5-2 cm wide. They are broadly sword shaped and hairy above. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The pods are 6-7 mm long by 4-5 mm wide. They are oblong and covered with rusty hairs. The seeds are greenish-brown. They are speckled with dark purple. They are 2.5 mm long by 1.5 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in savannah and swamps in mountain locations in West Africa. It grows between 1,650-2,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR , East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Eriosema schoutedenianum Staner & De Craena;