Tetragonia fruticosa
L.
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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Kathy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kathy
Summary
Source: WikipediaTetragonia fruticosa, or kinkelbossie, is a coastal perennial shrub or scrambler endemic to Namibia. It is well-suited to dune sand stabilisation and often browsed by livestock and game. It is found from sea-level to about 1100 metres. The fruits are unusual for Aizoaceae being four-winged, single-seeded and indehiscent. The wings are green and succulent at first, drying and becoming papery and brown, aiding in dispersal of the seed by wind. The flowers are a rich source of pollen and nectar for honeybees.
Description
A subtropical herb in the Aizoaceae family with edible leaves.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The leaves are eaten as a snack.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten as a snack.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Australia, South Africa, Southern Africa*,
Notes
There are about 85 Tetragonia species.
References (7)
- Flora of Australia, Volume 4, Phytolaccaceae to Chenopodiaceae, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1984) p 38
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 106
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 235
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 172
- Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 8
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- Sp. pl. 1:480. 1753
- Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
