Kullayya
Vatovaea pseudolablab

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb. It climbs over shrubs in dry country. The stems are a greenish-purple. The roots are long and swollen. They are juicy and fibrous. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The flowers are purple and green. The fruit are pods that are slightly curved and softly hairy. They have about 6 seeds.

There is only one Vatovaea species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In East Africa it often grows along dry watercourses and in dry bush land. It grows in the lowlands and midlands between 450-1,400 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Oman, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen

How it is used for food

All parts are eaten raw. The tubers can be eaten raw or boiled. They can also be peeled, chopped and dried then ground to produce flour. This is used with sorghum flour to produce porridge. The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers and leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds, pod, leaves, vegetable, flowers, tuber, root

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Gaabbe, Gabe, Gele, Kela, Kelewo, Kilukyo, Kulia kurappo, Kullayya, Njiasi, Olkalai, Orkalei

Synonyms

Phaseolus cibellii Chiov.; Vigna pseudolablab Harms; Vatovea biloba Chiov.;