Stinging pavonia
Pavonia urens

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A rambling shrub. The stems are soft. It grows 3 m tall. The stems and leaves are hairy. These can cause itching when touched. The flowers are purplish-red. The plant can vary in hairiness, leaf shape and flower colour.

The root is used for medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edge of forests. In Malawi it grows between 1,550-2,200 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it grows between 600-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flowers are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chatata, Nchima, Tchone, Thoni

Synonyms

Pavonia schimperiana Hochst. ex A. Rich.;