Small bead-bean
Maerua triphylla

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A shrub with many branches. It can be a scrambler or small tree. It grows up to 5 m tall. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oblong and 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The end leaflet is twice the size of the others. These taper to the base. The flowers are in short, flat-topped heads. They are in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit are long and narrow. They are 10 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are pale creamy-brown. They are slightly constricted between the seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in low altitude, dry type of woodland. It East Africa it grows from sea level to 2,300 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Congo DR, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. The roots are used for porridge.

They are a famine food.

Edible parts

Fruit, root, caution, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anaedo, Kipegero, Maerua, mu-Tanangia, Mutumburu, Ol-amalogi, Umubyaazamasekerume

Synonyms

Maerua pubescens (Klotzsch) Gilg.; Maerua cylindocarpa Gilg. & Bened.;