Dorstenia barnimiana

Schweinf.

Moraceae Edible: Root, Tuber 4 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-sa

wikimedia· cc-by-sa

Wikimedia Commons - ChriKo

Summary

Dorstenia barnimiana is a very small tuberous succulent native widely across tropical Africa from Cameroon east to Zambia, and also in the southern Arabian Peninsula in Yemen. The variety D. b. var. tropaeolifolia, found across most of the species' area, is the smallest known member of the family Moraceae. It has a single peltate leaf 3 cm (1.2 in) diameter springing from a tiny tuber 16 mm thick, with the leaf's petiole being 4 cm (1.6 in) height. As with other Dorstenia species, the tiny flowers coat the upper surface of a disk-like inflorescence.

Description

A tropical herb in the Moraceae family that serves as a famine food.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The root or tuber is eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The root is eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia,

Other Information

It is a famine food.

Also Known As

Kuritata, Rarii

References (4)

Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
Gemedo-Dalle, T., et al, 2005, Plant Biodiversity and Ethnobotany of Borana Pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia. Economic Botany 59(1) pp. 43-65
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