White's ginger
Mondia whitei

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A tall climber. It has a large tuberous rootstock. The leaf stalk is about 5 cm long. The leaf blade is 15 cm long by 10 cm wide. It is rounded or heart shaped at the base. There is a frill of teeth at the base of the leaves. The flowering clusters are along the side. They are 15 cm long. They are purple. The fruit are 10 cm long by 3 cm wide. The seeds are flattened and have a tuft of hairs.

It is used in medicine. The seeds have been used as an arrow poison.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry forest in Africa. In Kenya it grows between 1,500-2,000 m altitude. It grows under trees in soil with lots of humus.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots are used for making ginger beer. The fleshy bark of the narrow roots is eaten raw and sometimes dried. It tastes hot and bitter at first then sweeter later. The root can be dried and stored. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are chopped, dried and then cooked.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots, tuber - drink, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings of roots or shoots.

The roots are dug up.

Its other names

Local names

Emulondo, Ichegou, Kimbiolongua, Lacadje, Londolondo, Mlondo londo, Mulondo, Muombo, Nhavoma, Nlondo nlondo, Ogombo, Omurondwa, Pados, Tecjaw, Umondi

Synonyms

Chlorocodon whitei Hook. f.; Mondia ecornuta (N. E Br.) Bullock;