Marsdenia sylvestris

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A straggling climber. It has a taproot and keeps growing from year to year. It can grow up to 10 m high. It has milky juice. The leaves are opposite and sword shaped. They are 5 cm long by 2 cm wide. The flowers are white to pale yellow. The fruit are round in cross section and have 3-4 curved sides. They are 12 cm long and 2 cm across. There are many flowers in groups on short stalks.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot and arid areas. It is usually in places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It can grow on well-drained or seasonally flooded sandy or clay soils. In southern Africa it grows between 500-1,200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are cooked and used in vegetable dishes. They are roasted in hot ashes for a few minutes then peeled and eaten. Caution: The fruit contain some alkaloids.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Merara, Omudhingila, Ruku

Synonyms

Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) Schult.;