Large devil's thorn
Sesamum eriocarpum

Family: Pedaliaceae

What it is like

A herb that lies along the ground. It has stems 1.5 m long. The leaves are blue-green above and silvery white underneath. They are in opposite pairs. The leaves have irregular coarse teeth along the edges. The leaves are almost heart shaped. The flowers are pink and have darker markings on the lower lobes. They are about 3.5 cm long. They have 2 lips and 3 short lobes with a longer lobe underneath. The fruit is oval and flattened. It is 1.3 cm long. It has 2 sharp thorns on a ridge along the middle.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in loose, sandy soil. It grows between 900-1,200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Coa, Dinda, Ecua, Hiehlo, Hlehlo, Lichechua, Liramata, Sgagula, Tshetlho-etonanyana

Synonyms

Dicerocaryum eriocarpum (Decne) Abels; Dicerocaryum zanguebarium (Lour.) Merr. subsp. eriocarpum (Decne) Ihlenf.;