Lion's eye, Miombo pimpernel
Tricliceras longipedunculatum

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a woody rootstock and a well developed above ground stem. There can be one or many stems. The plant keeps growing from year to year. It grows 40 cm high. It has white hairs. The leaves are 20 cm long and narrow. There are usually some teeth near the base. There are 4-12 flowers along a stalk. The petals are orange or red. The fruit is a capsule 4-9 cm long by 0.2 cm wide.

It is possibly threatened. Also put in the family Turneraceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. It needs well drained salty soil. It grows between 300-1,525 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are removed from the stalk and pounded to soften before cooking. They are used in vegetable soup.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chikukurume, Itolandau, Jongwe, Kakukrume, Katambala, Leito ladau, Nakatambara, Nletendono, Rukukurume, Shimbalandali, Tukukurume

Synonyms

Wormskioldia longepedunculata Mast.;