Hottentot's bread
Brachystelma gerrardii
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A herb. It is stiff and erect. It grows 50 cm high. It is robust, leafy and hairy. The leaves have short stalks. The leaf blades are widest below the middle. They are oval and 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are pointed and the edges are slightly rough. The flowers are at the top of the shoots. There are 1 or 2 flowers together among the leaves. They are greenish-yellow or brown. The fruit are smooth and 1 cm long by 4 mm wide. They taper to a long point.
Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. In Swaziland it is in the highveld only.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Root, tubers
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Sidsendza, Sidzendza