Tetracera potatoria

Family: Dilleniaceae

What it is like

A straggling shrub or woody climber. It can be 5 m long. The young branches are greenish-brown and turn reddish-brown. The leaves are broadly oval and 4-14 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The edges can be slightly wavy. The flowers are in groups on leafy shoots near the ends of branches.

It probably has benefits as an anti-ulcer agent.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows between 1,000-1,500 m above sea level. It grows in savannah woodland and palm groves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The sap of the stem is used as a drink. The leaves are used in sauces.

Edible parts

Leaves, sap, stems - juice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ebirito, Lata, Mbembi, N'ata, Ngouto, Okukuko, Twihama

Synonyms

Tetracera obtusata Oliv.; Tetracera stuhlmanniana Gilg; Tetracera leiocarpa Stapf;