Grapple plant
Harpagophytum zeyheri

Family: Pedaliaceae

What it is like

A herb that lies along the ground. It has a succulent taproot. It produces annual stems. The leaves are opposite. They are broadly oval. The edges have rounded teeth or deep lobes. The flowers are pink with a yellow throat. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a capsule with 4 lines of backward curving spines. There are some subspecies.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry open woodland and on Kalahari sand. It can grow in the desert. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It grows between 350-1,430 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flower nectar is eaten raw.

They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Nectar

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Harpagophytum peglerae Stapf; Harpagophytum zeyheri (Burch.) DC. var. sublobatum (Engl.) Stapf;