Urera mannii
(Wedd.) Rendle
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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Meise Botanic Garden
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MBG
Description
A shrubby climber. The stems are 3-6 m long. It has stinging hairs. Plants are separately male and female.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a spinach.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are eaten as a spinach. They are cooked.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
A leaf-decoction is taken in Nigeria as a cure for dysentery and diarrhoea. The following reports are for the closely related U. Cordifolia. They almost certainly apply to this species also. There are numerous local medicinal uses reported for the leaf sap, leaf decoctions and dried, powdered leaves. These include in the treatment of dysentery; neuralgia; deafness and other ear affections; diarrhoea with blood; chest pain; male impotency; and furuncles. The leaves are also used as an aphrodisiac and laxative. The whole plant is used as a diuretic. The sap of crushed inflorescences is taken as a poison antidote.
Known Hazards
The leaves and flowers are cloaked in stinging hairs. The leaves are used as a component of arrow poison.
Distribution
A tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Central Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa,
Cultivation
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Other Uses
The following report is for the closely related U. Cordifolia. It almost certainly applies to this species also. A strong fibre is obtained from the bark. It is used for making ropes and fishing lines.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Dzaa
References (10)
- Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew.
- Busson, 1965,
- Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.
- Ferns, K., Useful tropical Plants.
- Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 26
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- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 108
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 223
- Okigbo, B.N., Vegetables in Tropical Africa, in Opena, R.T. & Kyomo, M.L., 1990, Vegetable Research and development in SADCC countries. Asian Vegetable Research and development Centre. Taiwan. p 45
- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 196
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
