Hilleria latifolia

Family: Petiveriaceae

What it is like

A shrubby annual herb. It grows 2 m tall. The stems are erect. They are slender and branched. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf blade is 8-16 cm long by 4-8 cm wide.

There are 3 Hilleria species. It is also put in the family Phytolaccaceae

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests near rivers. It grows between 500-1,600 m altitude. In Argentina it grows below 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is considered toxic but also used as a vegetable. It can cause severe diarrhoea. The dried fruit are used as a relish. The leaves are cooked and eaten as a leafy vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, buds, fruit, caution, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akaka, Asede, Ingopo, Loko, Lokobo, Lokowo, Mulondipi, Ngudi a nkuekue, Saka

Synonyms

Hilleria elastica Vell.; Hilleria secunda O.Kuntze; Mohlana apetala Engl.; Mohlana latifolia Miq.; Mohlana secunda Mart.; Mohlana guineensis Moquin; Rivina latifolia Lam.; Rivina apetala Engl.; Rivina affinis Nees et Mart.; Rivina inaequalis Hook.;