Laportea ovalifolia

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year and has runners. It has scattered stinging hairs. The main stem usually lies along the ground and has erect shoots. It grows 2 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf stalk is 5-10 cm long and the leaf blade is 8-10 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. It is rounded at the base and tapers to the tip. There are rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers are of separate sexes. The male flowers are on fleshy pink erect stalks 50 cm long. These arise from the leaf axils of underground stems. They are in clusters 1 cm across. Female flowers are on stalks 5 cm tall. The fruit are 3 mm long.

There are about 22 Laportea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest and along streams. It grows from 900-2,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are often mixed with other vegetables.

It is a minor vegetable of local importance.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

The leaves are collected in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Alumeme, Barumeme, Ishuwu, Lugeni, Mpupu, Nyaluvafya, Pupu, Umufuura

Synonyms

Fleurya podocarpa Wedd.; Fleurya ovalifolia (Schumach.) Dandy; Haynea ovalifolia Schumach. & Thonn.;