Sonchus schweinfurthii

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It is erect and can grow for several years. It grows 1-1.5 m tall. The taproot is slightly woody. It has a single stem and branches. The stem is hollow and it has ridges along it. The leave stick upwards and are thinly leathery. The leaves on the stem are 36 cm long by 3 cm wide. The upper leaves clasp the stem and are more narrow.

There are about 60 Sonchus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in seasonally or permanently wet soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: It is bitter due to Sesquiterpene lactones.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Achak, Mshunga, Mshunga-pwapwa, Nsombya, Toriba

Synonyms

Sonchus bipontini var. pinnatifidus sensu Eyles;