Guilleminea densa

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a woolly plant and forms mats. It lies along the ground. The mats spread about 70 cm across. It has a thickened rootstock and stems branch from the base. The leaves are narrowly oval and smooth on the upper surface but with white woolly hairs underneath. The flowers are dense oval and whitish.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open disturbed sites near roads. It can grow on gravels and sand. It grows between 400-1,600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Central America, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, North America, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Brayulinea densa (Willd.) Small; Guilleminea illecebroides Kunth; Illecebrum densum Roem. & Schult.;