Raphionacme splendens subsp. bingeri

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A vine. The tubers are 5-8 cm across. They can be 25 cm across. They have white flesh. It has white sap when cut. The stems are zigzag shaped and 20 cm tall. There are a few narrowly oval leaves. The flowers are pink to purple.

There are about 100 Brachystelma species. The tubers of all Brachystelma species are probably edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the stony savannah in West Africa. It grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The tubers are eaten raw after removing the hard outer layer. They are also boiled and eaten.

The roots and fruit are eaten by children during famine.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or using the tuber.

Its other names

Local names

a-Ndekap, Fie, Fie-gue, Figue, Fikongo, Gamkbuhrongal, Hiama, Lokotombo, M'pie, Nda-fegue

Synonyms

Brachystelma bingeri Chev.; Raphionacme bagshawei S. Moore; Raphionacme bingeri (A. Chev.) J.-P. Lebrun & Stork; Raphionacme daronii Berhaut;