Hydnora abyssinica

Family: Aristolochiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows on other plants. It usually grows on Acacia roots. It grows underground. It is a parasite growing on the roots of Lannea fulva (Engl.) Engl. (Anacardiaceae) and Acacia mellifera. It grows 10-15 cm high. It lacks leaves. It has runner like roots or rhizomes that are thick, hard and dark brown. The flowers are the only part visible above ground. They are brown and scaly and covered with coarse bristles. The flower buds turn rusty red on exposure to the air as they emerge from the ground. The flowers are 15 cm long. They have a bad smell and attract beetles. There are underground stems or rhizomes. The fruit are produced underground. The seeds are embedded in a pulp.

There are 4 Hydnora species. They grow in Africa. Also put in the family Hydnoraceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in peat and organic soils. It can grow in arid places. It occurs in woodland and grassland up to 1,500 m above sea level in Tasmania. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 700-1,600 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten raw and also cooked. The fruit are eaten raw and used as a vegetable. They are also dried. The root tubers are eaten raw. The fruit occurs underground and the pulp is eaten. The shoot of the underground stem is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, roots, shoots

How it is grown

It can be grown by cuttings of the underground stem.

Fruit are collected in the dry season.

Its other names

Local names

Aurieng'o, Awurieng'o, Erukunyi, Fateekh, Ftookh, Guli, Imlokh, Kawo-riongo, Kongo amur, Kuaarer,Likeh, Liki, Muthigira, Nabeekh, Nyambo, Osuyo, Oyusu, Toga, Trateef, Twacheen

Synonyms

Hydnora africanus sensu Eyles; Hydnora johannis Becc,; Hydnora solmsiana Dinter;