Eriosema youngii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A slender stemmed herb. The root produces a swollen tuber about 2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm across. There is a single stem 20 cm long and it has 1 or 2 trailing branches near the base. The leaves have one leaflets that is 2-13 cm long by about 1 cm wide. It is narrowly oval. There are 2-4 flowers in a group in the axils of the leaves. The flower standard is yellow inside and reddish outside. The fruit is a pod 9-10 mm long by 5 mm wide. It has rusty hairs. The seeds are brown with dark speckles. They are 2-3 mm long by 2 mm wide and 1 mm thick.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in marshy and wooded mountain grassland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Mali, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root ?

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Eriosema tenue Hepper;