Xysmalobium acerateoides

(Schltr.) N. E. Br.

Bitter wood

Apocynaceae Edible: Leaves, Fruit 51 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A herb. The stems spread along the ground and they can branch near the base. The leaves stand erect on the stem. The leaves are pale and have short stalks. The leaf blades are oval or sword shaped and taper equally to both ends. The leaves are 7 cm long by 2 cm wide. The midrib is prominent underneath. The flowers are at the ends. They are in round heads. They are white or cream. The fruit is prickly.

Edible Uses

The leaves and fruit are eaten.

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean or subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland,

Notes

Also put in the family Asclepiadaceae.

Synonyms

Pachyacris acerateoides (Schltr.) Stewart & LangleyThis may be the correct name. Asclepias acerateoides (Schltr.) Schltr.Gomphocarpus acerateoides Schltr.

Also Known As

Umdzayi

References (6)

Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
Ogle & Grivetti, 1985,
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 67
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 28
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora

Show all 6 references

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