Tragia insuavis
Family: Euphorbiaceae
What it is like
A slender twining or trailing herb. It keeps growing from year to year. There are stinging hairs on the stems and leaves. The stems come from a woody rootstock. The stems twine anticlockwise. The leaves are alternate and oval. They are heart shaped at the base. The stalk is 1-6 cm long. The leaf blade is 4-10 cm long. They are bright green above and more pale underneath. The flowers are yellow to green. The are very small. The male and female flowers are separate. They are beside the leaves on the stalk. The fruit is a lobed capsule.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and can be beside lakes and rivers. In Tanzania it grows between 500-1,300 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania
How it is used for food
The young leaves are chopped and cooked alone or mixed with other vegetables. Caution: It has stinging hairs.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Leaves are collected during the rainy season.
Its other names
Local names
Mbawa, Nyaluvalfya