Platostoma africanum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A trailing herb. It can grow each year from seeds or last a few years. It grows 1 m long. The stems are pale green and 4 angled. The leaves are opposite and oval. They are 5 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. The tip is pointed and they are smooth around the edge. They narrow to the base. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The leaves are pale grey-green underneath. The flowers are small. They are along a narrow flower head at the top of the plant. The fruit are 4 oval nutlets.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet forests. It grows in savannah woodland and on the edges of small lakes. It grows in part shade. In Tanzania it grows between 100-2,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Kenya, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are cooked along or along with other vegetables.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Leaves are collected during the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Kisogo, Kisungu

Synonyms

Platostoma flaccidum Beauv.;