Glyphaea brevis

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m tall. The bark is grey-brown. The small branches have hairs when young. The leaves are 5-30 cm long by 2-11 cm wide. The leaves usually droop. They are oblong and rounded at the base. There are normally small teeth along the edge. The leaf stalk is 5-30 mm long. The flowers are yellow. The flowers are in a head near the ends of branches. These are 2.5-3.5 cm across. The fruit are like a woody okra fruit. The fruit are spindle shaped and grooved. They are 4-7 cm long and 10-15 mm wide.

There are 2 Glyphaea species in Africa. This is probably the same as Glyphaea tomentosa. These have also been in the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is mainly in forest regrowth. It is also along stream banks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa

How it is used for food

The stem is used as a chew stick. The flower buds are cooked.

Edible parts

Budding flowers, stem, fruit, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

The flowers occur all year round.

Its other names

Local names

Atofin, Atori, Itolon, Keng

Synonyms

Capparis brevis Spreng.; Glyphaea grewioides Hook.f.; Glyphaea lateriflora (G. Don) Hutch. & Dalz.; Glyphaea monterei Hook.f.; Grewia lateriflora G. Don;