Mussaenda elegans
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A woody creeper. It grows 3-10 m long. The flowers are bright red or orange with yellow throat hairs.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It needs light. It grows in secondary and savannah forest in West and Central Africa. It can be in palm groves.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa
How it is used for food
The flowers are cooked and used as a tea drink substitute.
Edible parts
Fruit, flowers
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Damaram, Diambalulu, Kombeyekongo, Otakwa oukou, Potkulombo