Schlechterella abyssinica

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A slender climber. It has a tuber 10-25 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. It grows annual stems from this. The stems can last more than one year. They are twining and 1.5 m long. The leaves are opposite and narrowly oval. They are 2-10 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They are dull green with dots. The tip curves backwards. They are wedge shaped at the base. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves and at the ends of branches. There are 3-5 branches with about 5 flowers each. They are dark violet or mottled green. The fruit are narrowly oval follicels 6 cm logn by 0.8 cm wide. They are brown.

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Somalia it grows at about 1,650 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Potoro

Synonyms

Raphionacme abyssinica Chiov.; Triodoglossum abyssinicum (Chiov.) Bullock;