Milk rope
Cynanchum gerrardii

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A twining plant. It can grow 2 m high. It does not have leaves. The stems are smooth and succulent with milky sap. The flowers are in small clusters without stalks at the nodes along the stem. The fruit are slender and pointed.

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is often on rocky outcrops near the sea. It can grow from sea level to 1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Central Africa, Comores, Congo, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Middle East, Mozambique, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The shoots are eaten.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cynanchum aphyllum (Thunb.) Schltr. Cynanchum sarcostemmatoides K. Schum.; Cynanchum tetrapterum (Turcz.) R. A. Dyer ex Bullock;