Periploca aphylla
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It is erect and branched. It grows 2-3 m tall. It has milky juice. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are 6-7 mm long and narrowly oval. The flowers are in 1.2-2.5 long groups. They are on thick stalks. The fruit are rigid and woody and 5-10 cm long by 5-6 mm wide. They are pointed. The seeds are 6 mm long.
There are 10 Periploca species. They are also put in the family Acelepiadaceae.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean plant. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 100-400 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, Arabia, Asia, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen
How it is used for food
The flower buds are eaten cooked or raw as a vegetable. The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. The young stems are chewed. The fresh green fruit are chewed.
It is especially eaten by children.
Edible parts
Leaves, flower buds, fruit, stems
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bara-ra, Barrarr, Barrarra, Barri, Bata