Vlei ink-flower
Cycnium tubulosum

Family: Scrophulariaceae

What it is like

A herb that can be erect or straggling. It has a woody tuberous rhizome. It can grow partly by feeding on grass roots. The stems are 5-40 cm long. The leaves are 7 cm long. They are narrowly oval. They can have teeth or lobes. The flowers are pink, white or mauve. They have a sweet scent. The flowers can occur singly. The fruit is a capsule 5-15 mm long. It has wings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on damp meadows. It also grows in swamps and river banks and in water up to 1 m deep. It can grow up to 1,540 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, East Africa, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Root, rhizome, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Motshe-wabadimo

Synonyms

Rhamphicarpa heuglinii Hochst. & Schweinf.; Rhamphicarpa montana N. E. Br.; Cycnium tubulosum subsp. montanum (L. f.) Engl., (N. E. Br.) O. J. Hansen; Gerardia tubulosa L. f.; Rhamphicarpa curviflora Benth.; Rhamphicarpa tubulosa (L.f.) Benth.;