Hard Simsim, Black sesame
Hyptis spicigera

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seed. It is erect and the stems are 1-1.5 m tall. The angles are rough. The leaf stalk is 0.3-2.2 cm long. It is rough. The leaf blade is sword shaped and 2.5-7.5 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. It is bluish green and hairy. The flower spikes are in axils of leaves or at the tip of branches. They are 1.6-6.5 cm long and 1-1.3 cm wide. There are many flowers. The nutlets are brown.

There are about 350-400 Hyptis species. Most are tropical or subtropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropics in Africa. It can be in savannah woodland and in forests along rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Guatemala, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America (country/location of origin), South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Taiwan, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used for food

The seeds are brazed to a jelly and is used in stews and gravies. The seeds are used as a flavouring. They are also roasted and eaten. The leaves and flowers are used to make a sauce. They are cooked.

The seeds are an important food for oil.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

The leaves and flowers are plucked from the plant. The stems of plants bearing seeds are cut and the seeds harvested.

Its other names

Local names

Amola, Benefing, Boro-boro, Ebalo, Embinze, Kinu, Lamola, Mwinula-mponda, Neeno, Nhambairam, Nino, Pok-uthoe, Sui xu shan xiang, Womanyeyi

Synonyms

Hyptis americana (Aubl.) Urb. [Illegitimate]; Hyptis gonocephala C. Wright ex Griseb.; Hyptis hispida Poepp. ex J. A. Schmidt; etc Leucas microscypha Baker; Mesosphaerum gonocephalum (C. Wright ex Griseb.) Kuntze; Pycnanthemum elongatum Blanco; and others