Cryptolepis oblongifolia

Cryptolepis oblongifolia, the red-stemmed milk rope, is a multi-stemmed shrub in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to moist and mesic regions of southern Africa, where it occurs in rocky grassland, grassy woodland or riverine vegetation. It is found from South Africa to Zambia. It grows about 1m tall, and carries widely spaced, opposite leaves on the reddish-brown stems. The yellow to reddish-yellow flowers appear in axillary clusters.

Description

An evergreen herb or small shrub. It can be a climber or scrambler. It grows 2 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. The branches are reddish-brown. The plant produces latex or sap when injured. The leaves are opposite and narrow. The leaves are dark green above and grey-green underneath. The are in well spaced pairs opposite each other. The flowers occur as 3-15 in branched clusters. They are yellowish-green. The flower has a tube and short lobes. The fruit occur in pairs joined at the base. They are 9 cm long by 1 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and have a slimy texture. The roots are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked. They are slimy.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are traditionally cooked and used as a vegetable.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hot and arid areas. It grows in places with a dry season or 6-11 months. In southern Africa it grows between 50-1,800 m altitude. It grows in well-drained soil in woodland, hills or plains. It can grow in arid places. It grows in savannah woodland in West Africa.

Where It Grows

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Other Uses

A latex is produced from damaged areas on the plant. Whitish, cotton-like fibres can be obtained from the outer layers of the root. Quite strong, they can be twisted to form finer or coarser cords for ornamental use and are also used to make simple baskets.

Notes

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bokhoring, Bwazi, Intato, Kungo fali, Lambulwe, Lu-tutu, Melkbos, Murgissua, Nhacanhaca, Nkaka, Quelerdjere, Rwapene, Vumbvu

References (12)

• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew. (As Ectadiopsis oblongifolia)
• Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 10
• 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 24 (As Cryptolepis nigritana)
• Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 561 (As Ectadiopsis oblongifolia)

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