Tacazzea apiculata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A woody climber. It can be 20 m long. It has milky sap. The leaves are opposite and oval. They are pointed at the tip. The flowers are creamy white and occur in groups. The petals are net back. The flowers grow in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are capsules that occur in pairs.

There are 4 Tacazzea species. It is also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the under-storey in dry forest in West Africa. It grows throughout most of tropical Africa. It grows along streams. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Flowers, vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mancahaneide, Mankaranedi, Manta, Nhandurrabo, Saparo, Sapate, Tamba temb, Vak vang, Wak wange

Synonyms

Periploca apiculata (Oliv.) Roberty; Tacazzea apiculata var. benedicta Scott Elliot; Tacazzea barteri Baill.; Tacazzea kirkii N. E. Br.; Tacazzea welwitschii Baill.; and others