Orthanthera albida
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A herb or small shrub. It is succulent and has an unpleasant smell. It can grow to 1 m high. The stems are pale grey and without hairs. The leaves are narrow. They can be 50 mm long by 1-2 mm wide. They are often reduced to scales or absent at flowering time. The flower tubes are grey on the outside and green inside. They are in groups halfway up the slender stalks.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in sandy and rocky soils. In Namibia it grows between 300-800 m above sea level. It grows in areas with a rainfall under 400 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Namibia, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The flowers are eaten raw. The fruit are eaten raw. With young fruit, the entire fruit are eaten but with mature fruit the flesh is eaten and the skin and seeds removed.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Flowers, fruit, roots - flavouring
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Arib, Dai, Larib, Orunavi