Raphionacme hirsuta

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A herb. It forms a large, flattened round tuber. Several short forked shoots develop from this. These are less than 15 cm long. They have a few pairs of leaves that have short stalks. The leaf blades are 5 cm long by 2 cm wide. The midrib is easy to see. The flowers are low down on the branches. They are purple and slightly hairy.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Swaziland it grows only in the highveld.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The underground tuber is mixed with sugar and brewed to make beer. Caution: It may be poisonous. The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, fruit, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ghali, Indzema, Khadiwortel

Synonyms

Brachystelma hirsutum E. Mey.; Raphionacme divaricata Harv,; and others