Slender Ectadium
Ectadium virgatum
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
An erect shrub. It has several stems. It has a taproot and keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 3 m high. The stems have a milky sap. The leaves are opposite and slender. The flowers tube is trumpet shaped. It is pale green to yellow. The flowers are in clusters near the end of the plant. The flowers have a scent like honey. The fruit is a capsule 4-5 cm long by 1 cm wide.
Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot, arid areas where there is a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It grows in deep sandy and rocky soils. In southern Africa it grows between 70-200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The outer most layer of the fruit is used as a vegetable. It is roasted and ground.
Edible parts
Fruit