Giradol
Chrozophora plicata

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It can lie along the ground or curve upwards. It grows 50 cm high. It has white or grey hairs. The leaves are triangle shaped and 1-4 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are opposite the leaves. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are orange-yellow and female flowers are red. The fruit have 3 lobes and are 5 mm long by 9 mm wide. They are reddish-purple when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical or Mediterranean plant. It grows in drier areas but in water-logged areas on riverbanks. It grows up to 200 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows to 600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Asia, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, North Africa, Pakistan, Palestine, SE Asia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Syria, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The petals, fruit and sap are used to produce red and blue dyes for colouring liqueurs, wine, pastries and cheese.

Edible parts

Petals - dye, fruit - dye, sap - dye

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gyo-sagauk

Synonyms

Chrozophora burmanni Spr.; Chrozophora parvifolia Klotzsch ex Schwf.; Chrozophora prostrata Dalz. & Gibs.; Chrozophora rottleri (Geisel.) A. Juss. ex Spreng.; Croton plicatus Vahl; Croton tinctorius sensu Burm. f.;