Silver snake root
Persicaria senegalensis

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A robust herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3 m tall. The leaves are alternate and bright green. The flowers are in clusters on long spikes. They are pink. The fruit is a shiny black nut.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in standing water. It grows between 400-3,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, North Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The plant is burnt to make a vegetable salt.

Edible parts

Leaves, tuber, root, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Polygonum senegalense Meisn.; Polygonum lanigerum R. Br.;