Soap nettle, Snuggle-leaf
Pouzolzia mixta

Family: Urticaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can be 4 m high The stems are slender. The bark is dark purple-brown and smooth. The leaves are alternate. They are 10 cm long by 5 cm wide. There are no teeth along the edge. The leaves taper to the tip. The upper surface is green and the lower surface is covered with white felt. The flowers are in dense round clusters. These are 1 cm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open deciduous woodland. It is often on rocky banks and hillsides. It grows between 250-1,900 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 300-450 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. They are chopped and cooked with coconut milk or pounded with peanuts. Caution: The hairs on the leaves cause itching until it is put into hot water.

It is a popular green leafy vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds.

Leaves are collected in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Chidanzua, Isikhukhukhu, Kanyandee, Kurapi, Licopwa, Lugoye, Mkaafuu, Mongololo, Msopo, Mtwaki, Mulambadivhu, Munanzva, Murovhadembe, Muthanzwa, Ondomo, Seepnetel, Sikukuku, Tasva, Tingo, Udekane

Synonyms

Pouzolzia arabica Defl.; Pouzolzia fruticosa Engl.; Poulzolzia huillensis Hiern.; Pouzolzia hypoleuca Wedd.;