Sesamum latifolium
Family: Pedaliaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows 60-120 cm tall. The stems are 4 sided and hairy. The leaves vary. Lower leaves are large and oval or heart shaped and 8-13 cm long by 9-18 cm wide. The upper leaves are smaller. They are oval and 2-5 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They have teeth along the edge. The flowers are pale pink or mauve. The fruit capsule has short hairs and has 4 grooves. They are 2.7-3.1 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. The seeds are 3 mm long by 2 mm wide.
This may be the ancestor of cultivated sesame.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-1,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Gnim jowok