Leptadenia hastata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A creeping shrub. It grows 2-12 m long. It has many stems. The leaves are alternate and taper towards the tip. The stems are light green. Young shoots curve upwards and has long spaces between the leaves. The leaves are up to 10 cm long. They are oval and light green. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are cone shaped and have 2 valves. These split open releasing cottony winged seeds. The plant has a sticky sap when crushed.

There are about 4-10 Leptadenia species. The leaves are rich in Vitamin A.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Kano state, northern Nigeria. It grows in dry savannah. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-1,500 m altitude. It grows on sandy loams. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 1,100-1,500 mm. It can grow in arid places. It can tolerate drought. It is little damaged by insects.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Sahel, Senegal, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten. They are washed then cooked. They are usually cooked along with other leaves. They are slightly bitter and are eaten with beans, pigeon pea, or cowpeas. They are used to flavour soups.

An important food in Ethiopia and Senegal. The leaves are sold and the plant is cultivated. In other places it is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, buds, flowers, seeds, vegetable, gum, fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown on the fences near houses to provide leafy greens. Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Abu leben, Akamongot, Akochdial, Akoro, Anvara, Be-thacare, Bissacra, Caxat, Cheila, Chesakisyon, Cibode, Foadobarga, Futakadaf, Haila, Hasub, Kakulic, Kayilla, Lelogo, M'bafecabuduco, Meta, Metsa, Metsee, Moroh, Ndedeweck, N'rocde, Njera, Nqaasub, Safaro, Safarodje, Safato, Sapate, Sapato, Sora, Suname, Xeyla, Ya'diya, Yadya

Synonyms

Asclepias tomentosa Thonn. ex Decne.; Cynanchum hastatum Pers. [Illegitimate]; Cynanchum lancifolium Schumach. & Thonn.; Leptadenia hastata Vatke; Cynanchum lanceolatum Poir.; ?