Sericostachys scandens

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A stout climber or shrub. It grows 20 m high. The leaves are opposite. The leaf blade is 8 cm long by 3 cm wide. The leaves are narrowed at both ends. The leaf stalk is 12 mm long. The flowers are in the axils of leaves in 3-4 spikes. The fruit is a thin walled oval capsule. It is 3 mm long and has one seed. The seeds is almost 3 mm long. It is shiny brown.

There is only one Sericostachys species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests in West Africa growing into the canopy. In East Africa it grows between 1,200-2,600 m altitude. It is often near rivers and lakes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

A minor vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Sericostachys tomentosa Lopr.;