Salt of the tortoise
Oxygonum alatum

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 30-70 cm high. It branches from teh crown of the root. The leaves are small and sword shaped and about 5 cm long. Along the stem and leaf stalk there are cup like scales. The flowers are in a loose group 10-20 cm long. They are in clusters of 3. The flowers are star shaped and pinkish white. The fruit is a nut with 3 wings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in the Kalahari. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It grows in stony and sandy soils. It grows between 500-2,000 m above sea level. It can tolerate shade. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The stems are cooked as a vegetable. The seeds are eaten as a snack and used for flavouring.

It is collected from the wild. It is a locally useful vegetable in dry areas with poor soil.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Oikanda jomafuma, Sefuma, Suring

Synonyms

Oxygonum acetosella Welw.;