Lasianthera africana
Family: Icacinaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It can be 1-4 m tall. The small branches are angular. The leaves are oblong but heart shaped at the base and taper to the tip. They are 8-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are arranged alternately along the stem.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows as an under-storey plant in secondary jungle in West Africa. It grows along the side of rivers.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, West Africa
How it is used for food
Caution: The leaves contain alkaloids. The leaves can be dried and stored. They are used in soups. Some varieties can be bitter. To remove this they are washed several times in boiling water and also have potash added.
It is a commonly eaten vegetable in Nigeria. It is both cultivated and harvested from the wild.
Edible parts
Leaves, caution, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Editan, Etitan, Etoi, oi, Itebele, Kpurugiza, Nak-nka, Odindang, Uyoro