Milk weed
Asclepias woodii

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

An erect herb. It grows 80 cm tall. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem is simple and unbranched. It is thick at the base. The leaves are simple and opposite. They only have short stalks. They are narrowly sword shaped with bristly hairs. The edges curve back. The flowers are in a group at the top of the plant. There are 4-12 flowers. They are small and 5 mm long and cream-coloured.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit are only eaten in small quantities.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ishangangube, Liphoti

Synonyms

Gomphocarpus woodii Schltr.;