Serendipity berry
Dioscoreophyllum volkensii

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

A vine. It is a small woody climber. It is slender and branched. It grows 2 m high. There are 2 varieties.

It contain a protein monellin that is 100,000 times sweeter than sucrose. Variety fernandense has red brown hairs.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the humid rainforest. It suits humid locations. It grows from sea level to 200 m above sea level. It is also in woodland and along river banks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, East Africa, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa

How it is used for food

The root is a famine food. The leaves are an important food in some local regions.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, fronds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ambolbol-n'for, Bulbolmbol, Ito igbin, Kolebile, Msangani, N'fora, N'por, Popondepọndè, Unfora

Synonyms

Some regard it the same as Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels; Dioscoreophyllum volkensii var. fernandense (Hutch. & Dalziel) Troupin;