Lobelia gibberoa

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A plant that forms a column. It grows 9 m tall when in flower. The stem is erect and 6-12 cm thick. It is woody at the base. There is a ring of leaves without leaf stalks. These are narrowly sword shaped. They are 25-90 cm long by 4-15 cm wide. The leaves taper to the tip. The flowering stalks are 1-3 m long. It flowers in the dry season. The fruit is a capsule 10 mm long. The seeds are up to 8 mm long and have fine lines along them.

Probably edible. They have also been put in the family Lobeliiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows at the edges of rainforest and near streams. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Yekola-jibra

Synonyms

Lobelia intermedia Hauman; Lobelia squarrosa Bak.; Lobelia ulugurensis (Engl.) R. E. & T. C. E. Fr.; Lobelia usafuensis Engl.; Lobelia volkensii Engl.; Tupa schimperi Hochst. ex A. Rich.;