Afrosolen bainesii

(Baker) Goldblatt

Iridaceae Edible: Corm, Bulb, Root 24 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A herb. It has a bulb or corm. These are bell shaped. They have a flat bottom. They have a coarse dark brown covering that easily peels off. They are deep in the soil. They can be 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. They can be 10 cm deep in the soil. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm high. The stems have angles or wings. The leaves are 5-7 mm wide. They are narrowly sword shaped. The flowers have a scent. The flowers are tube shaped and pale blue. They can be white or have red marks.

Edible Uses

The corm or bulb can be eaten raw, roasted, pounded and added to stew, or dried and stored for later use. It is also added to vegetable dishes.

Traditional Uses

The corm or bulb is eaten raw and added to vegetable dishes. They are often roasted but can be pounded and added to stew. They can be dried and stored.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in stony and sandy soils. It grows between 600-1,350 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe,

Production

The corms are available for about 5 months of the year.

Also Known As

Onyengulushe

References (7)

Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 242 (As Lapeirousia bainesii)
Herb., E. A., 1981, (As Lapeirousia bainesii)
Maguire, 1978, (As Lapeirousia bainesii)
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 33 (As Lapeirousia bainesii)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 18th April 2011] (As Lapeirousia bainesii)

Show all 7 references