Monkey chair
Pyrenacantha malvifolia

Family: Icacinaceae

What it is like

A climbing or twining plant. The stems can be 15 m long. They arise from a swollen stem that can be 1.5 m across and 75 cm tall. Young shoots are hairy. The leaves are kidney shaped to oval and have between 3-7 irregular lobes. They are 4-12 cm long by 4-11 cm wide. The flowers are small and green. The fruit are 1.5-2 cm long by 7-10 mm thick. They turn yellow when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in semi-desert.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The root tubers are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Root, tuber

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Burii

Synonyms

Pyrenacantha globosa Engl.; Pyrenacantha ruspolii Engl.; Trematosperma cordatum Urb.;