Little russet pea
Argyrolobium tuberosum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A slender herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a tuberous rootstock. The stems have few branches. They are 60 cm high. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are narrowly sword shaped. The flowers are in groups of the top of the plant. They are reddish-brown on the outside and orange-yellow on the inside. The fruit are pods 5 cm long. They are narrow and almost straight.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in grassland and near watercourses. It grows along rivers at about 1,700 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tuberous root is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ulubomvu, Uvemvane

Synonyms

Argyrolobium angustifolium Eckl. & Zeyh.; Chasmone tuberosa;