Begonia macrocarpa
Warb.
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Carel Jongkind, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carel Jongkind
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Carel Jongkind, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
An erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 110 cm tall. The stems are succulent and swollen at the nodes. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 4-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are heart shaped at the base. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves and male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are winged capsules.
Edible Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten as an acid substitute for sorrel, typically served with fish or meat in stews.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are cooked and eaten as an acid substitute for sorrel. It is eaten with fish or meat in stews.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa,
Other Information
It is a minor vegetable.
References (2)
- Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 106
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
