Sphenostylis briartii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A trailing herb. It can be climbing. It can grow 1 m long. It has a slender rootstock. The stems are slender and branched. They can have a few hairs. The leaflets are 1-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are in groups of 1-3. The standard is pale pink and purple at the base. The fruit are pods 3-5 cm long by 3-4 mm wide. The seeds are brown and mottled. They are 2.5 mm long by 2 mm wide and 1.5 mm thick.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountain and high rainfall woodland and grassland. It grows in most ground and along swampy rivers. It grows between 780-1,800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tubers, root, pods, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Sphenostylis wildemaniana Baker f.; Vigna briartii De Wild.; Vigna homblei De Wild.; Vigna matengoana Harms;