Isonema smeathmannii
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A climbing shrub. It has a rusty red covering. It grows 5 m tall. The branches are 20 m long. The main stem is 2 cm across. The leaves are opposite and simple. The leaves are 4-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The base is rounded and they taper to the tip. They are leathery and hairy underneath. The flowering stalks are near the end of the branches and are 27 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are hairy. The flowers have both sexes. The flowers are tube shaped and red-brown in colour. The fruit are made up of 2 follicles. They are cylinder shaped and 11-20 cm long by 1 cm wide. They have rusty velvety hairs. There are many spindle shaped seeds.
There are 3 Isonema species. They are in tropical Africa.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in swamp forest. It is often along river banks.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West Africa
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten cooked as a potherb.
It is only a minor food plant.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seeds.