Sparmannia bush, Climbing stock-rose
Sparrmannia ricinocarpa

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3 m high. It can be a scrambler. The petals are white. The outer stamens are sterile and yellow. The fertile filaments are purple.

There are only a few Sparrmannia species. They are in Africa. These have also been in the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows at the edges of forests at high altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The stem bark is eaten raw. The leaves are eaten as a spinach.

The stem bark is eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem bark, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Hayihayi, Muhaba-haba, Wulkifa

Synonyms

Sparrmannia palmata;