Riocreuxia profusa

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A vine. It grows 18 m high. The stems have clear latex. The leaves are opposite and heart shaped. The flowers are in large numbers in branched heads. The flower tube is yellow or orange. The lobes are slender and join at the tip forming a cage.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows at the edges of forests and in gaps in the forest. In Malawi it grows between 1,400-2,450 m altitude. It also grows along rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Umshunko

Synonyms

Ceropegia burchellii (K. Schum.) Huber; Riocreuxia burchellii K. Schum.; Riocreuxia profusa N. E. Br.;