Eminia holubii
(Hemsley) Taubert
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by-nc-sa
MBG
Description
A herb. It can have trailing or climbing stems. These grow from a woody rootstock. The leaflets are 5-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. There can be a lobe on one side. The fruit is a pod 2-3 cm long and it is densely hairy. There is 1 or 2 seeds. The seeds are 3-4 mm long by 2 mm wide and 1 mm thick.
Edible Uses
The roots are used as a sweetening agent when making a very popular, traditional, mildly alcoholic drink known as 'munkoyo beer'. The very juicy roots have an unpleasant odour. Four to five woody roots around 10cm in diameter and 60cm long are produced from the apex of the root system.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in mixed woodland on Kalahari sands. It grows between 900-1,050 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Lesotho, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Synonyms
Also Known As
Mukuumbya, Mulaba, Mulunge
References (6)
- Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
- Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 37
- ILDIS Legumes of the World http:www:ildis.org/Legume/Web
- Kew Plants of the World Online
- Malaisse, F., 1997, Se nourrir en floret claire africaine. Approche ecologique et nutritionnelle. CTA., p 61 (Also as Eminia polyadenia)
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Robyns, W. (Ed.) 1954, Flore du Congo Belge Vol 6
