Plectranthus edulis
(Vatke) Agnew
Ethiopian potato, Gala potato
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by-sa
GBIF
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Description
A herb. It produces tubers on stolons or runners from the stems. There are several varieties that vary in leaf colour, tuber colour and size and other characteristics.
Edible Uses
The tuberous roots are eaten raw, and the leaves are cooked and eaten.
Traditional Uses
The tuberous root is eaten raw. The leaves are cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. In Ethiopia it grows between 1,600-3,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Asia, Australia, East Africa, Ethiopia*,
Cultivation
Plants are usually grown from tubers. It can also be grown from young sprouts from the tubers. Young plants can be transplanted.
Production
The crop matures in 4-5 months after transplanting.
Other Information
It is a cultivated food plant.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Agew dinich, Ajo, Dinicha oromo, Gurage dinich, Welaita dinich, Wolaita dinich
References (12)
- Asfaw, Z., Conservation and use of traditional vegetables in Ethiopia. FAO
- East African Herbarium records, 1981,
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 12 (As Coleus edulis)
- Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 66
- Linnaea 37:319. 1872 (As Coleus edulis)
Show all 12 references Hide references
- Lukhoba, C. W., et al, 2006, Plectranthus: A review of ethnobotanical uses. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 103 (2006) 1–24
- Lulekal, E., et al, 2011, Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity. Afrika Focus - Vol. 24, No 2. pp 71-121
- Mekbib, Y & Deressa, T., 2015, Exploration and collection of root and tuber crops in East Wollega and Ilu Ababora zones: Rescuing declining genetic resources. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol. 15(1), pp. 86-92
- Molla, A., Ethiopian Plant Names. http://www.ethiopic.com/aplants.htm
- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 118
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Coleus edulis)
- Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 541
