Sesamothamnus busseanus

Engl.

Sesame bush

Pedaliaceae Edible: Vegetable 17 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A spiny shrub or small tree. It grows 1-5 m tall. The trunk is swollen at the base. The wood is soft. The bark is coppery pink-green. It flakes off in papery layers. The young shoots are hairy. There are many spines. The leaves fall off during the year. The leaves grow in bundles from cushions along the stem. They are 2-5 cm long and wider at the tip. The flowers appear in the bare tree. There are only a few and they are white. They are tube shaped and have a sweet scent. The tube can be bright red. The tube can be 4 cm long and their is a long thin spur 6 cm long. The flower is 4-9 cm across. The fruit is a woody capsule. It is hairy when young. It is long and flattened and brown. It can be 4 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are several small winged seeds.

Edible Uses

Leaves and flowers - cooked. They are wilted and then cooked on their own or mixed with other vegetables such as amaranth or peas and eaten along with a staple such as rice. The leaves can be pounded, soaked in cold water and filtered, then the infusion used as a tenderizer when cooking other vegetables. Flowers - cooked, usually with the leaves. They can be cooked alone or mixed with other vegetables such as amaranth or peas and eaten along with a staple such as rice.

Traditional Uses

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania,

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are pounded then soaked in water. The infusion is drunk as a remedy for constipation and intestinal gas. Applied externally, the pounded leaves and stems are used as a poultice or paste on fresh wounds to stop the bleeding.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. In Tanzania it grows in woodland and grassland on shallow rocky soils. It grows between 300-1,300 m above sea level. It can grow in very arid conditions.

Where It Grows

Dry Acacia-Commiphora bushland or grassed bushland on shallow rocky soils at elevations from 300 - 1,300 metres.

Cultivation

A plant of arid regions in the tropics, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 1,300 metres. Plants are not tolerant of frost. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings.

Other Uses

The soft wood is used for making fire by friction.

Also Known As

Chung'ungu, Ifufu, Mlyang'ungu, Mulyanhungu

References (3)

Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 564
Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 604
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew