Red catkins
Acalypha glandulifolia

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

There are over 450 Acalypha species. They are tropical. There are 225 in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The roots are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ungibonisele, Usununundu

Synonyms

Acalypha entumenica Prain; Acalypha peduncularis var. glandulifolia (Buchinger & Meisn. ex C. Krauss) Mull.Arg.;