Rhynchosia caribaea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It climbs up shrubs. It grows 1 m high. It has a taproot. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 1-7 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. They are oval. The fruit are pods about 3 cm long. They have green veins. There are 2 seeds in each pod. The seeds are 4 mm across.

There are about 200 Rhynchosia species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. It grows between 5-2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots are used to prepare a porridge or a drink. The roots are dried, pounded and cooked into a porridge. It can be mixed with maize porridge.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kamba, Momo, Mughomo, Munkoyo

Synonyms

Copisma gibbum (E. Mey.) E. Mey; Glycine caribaea Jacq.; Rhynchosia acuminata Eckl. & Zeyh.; Rhynchosia congestiflora Schinz; Rhynchosia flavissima sensu E. G. Baker; Rhynchosia gazensis Baker. f.; Rhynchosia gibba E. Mey.;