Hoffmannseggia burchellii
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 40 cm high. It has thickened roots 20 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. There can be a cluster of 10 roots. The skin is yellowish brown. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk.
Also as Caesalpinaceae. It does not fix nitrogen.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in sandy soils. It grows in wooded grasslands and on Kalahari sands. It grows between 900-1,200 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The tuberous roots are eaten raw. The skin is removed.
Edible parts
Root, tuber