Oldmaid
Gisekia pharnaceoides

Family: Gisekiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It lays along the ground. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 20-50 cm long. It grows out from a central spot. The leaves have white dots. The leaves are leathery and shiny with a groove down the middle. The leaf blade is 1-2.5 cm long by 4-10 mm wide. The leaves are in pairs opposite one another or in rings. The flowers are in dense groups without stalks. There are 5-20 flowers. The flowers are green. They can also be pink or purple with a white centre. The seeds are black and smooth and with very small pits.

There are about 8 Gisekia species. There is only one genus in the family Gisekiaceae. It is also put in the family Aizoaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in open sandy places often near the sea. It grows in the tropics and subtropics. It grows in dry sandy places. It grows between 230-2,440 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa (country/location of origin), Algeria, America, Angola, Asia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indochina, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as greens. They are a potherb when food is scarce. They can be dried and stored. They are sometimes used as a flavouring or spice. Caution: Because it contains poisonous substances it should only ever be eaten in small amounts.

It is only an occasional vegetable. It has low palatability.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Balu-ka-sag, Co let, Dedman,Gangala, Hingala, Isaka dasari kura, Isaka-dantu-kura, Isaka-dasari-kura, Jangli sag, Ji su cao, Manal-keera, Manal-keerai, Masondroso, Morang, Mwana-ngira, Numnelli keeray, Omindjulu, Sareli, Valuka, Walu-chi-bhaji

Synonyms

Gisekia congesta Moq.; Gisekia linearifolia Schumach. & Thonn.; Gisekia molluginoides Wight; Gisekia rubella Hochst. ex Moq.;