Marsh dissotis
Dissotis canescens

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub. It has soft wood. The branches are erect. It grows 1.2 m high. It has small grey star shaped hairs. The leaf blade is sword shaped. It is often most broad below the middle. There are several main veins coming from the base. The leaves are 8 cm long by 2 cm wide. The flowering clusters are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is enclosed in an enlarged tube.

There are about 140 Dissotis species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Swaziland it occurs in the high veld only. It grows in marshy places. It is often along streams. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

The plant can be grown from seeds, cuttings or sections of rooted runners.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Dzinganezwe, Erkhambi lemfula, Infeyesele, Likhambi lemfula, Musukandarira, Nyarumvurwe, Ordeal bean, Ruhororo, Sichibochobo, Wild lasiandra

Synonyms

Dissotis incana (Walp.) Triana; Heterotis canescens (R. A. Graham) Jacq.-Fel. Osbeckia canescens E. Mey. ex R. A. Graham;