Ceratotheca sesamoides

Ceratotheca sesamoides is an annual flowering plant in the genus Ceratotheca. It is indigenous to Africa, and grows both as a wild and locally-cultivated species, and is colloquially referred to as false sesame owing to its marked similarities with common sesame (Sesamum indicum). The plant is most commonly cultivated in the African savannah and other semi-arid areas on the continent, and is found across Africa in both tropical and sub-tropical latitudes, usually growing in sandier soils south of the Sahara. It can be identified by numerous hairs on the stem; its pinkish flowers, often showing brown and purple markings; and a sub-erect growth habit. The leaves and flowers are often consumed as a vegetable or used in sauces. The leaves are thought to have medicinal properties, while the seeds can be used to produce cooking oil. Despite its many uses and increasing domestication at a local level, the plant remains predominantly underused and undervalued.

Description

A herb. It has an erect, slender stem. It grows 2-3 m tall. The leaves have stalks. The leaves at the top of the plant are arrowhead shaped and with teeth in their lower section. The lower leaves are wider and have teeth all around. The flowers are tube shaped. At the base of the flower stalk there is a pair of small purple glands on the stem. The fruit have 2 "horns" at the end. Possibly now Sesamum sesamoides

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable, collected and wilted in the sun, added to soups, or dried and pounded with other vegetables and boiled into a thick paste. The seeds are eaten like sesame seeds, added to soups, or processed into edible oil. Young pods are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are collected and wilted in the sun. They can be added to soups. Leaves can be preserved by drying. They are also dried in the sun and pounded with other vegetables and boiled as a thick paste. The seeds are eaten like sesame seeds. They are also put into soups. The seeds yield an edible oil.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves, when eaten as a vegetable, act as a laxative. The leaves are steeped in water and the slimy liquid is dropped into the eye to treat conjunctivitis. The mucilage is occasionally used as an emollient and lubricant. The leaves are soaked in warm water and used as a lubricant by women during labour in order to hasten childbirth. The resulting slippery liquid is applied on the walls of the birth canal to facilitate passage of the baby. The leaves are ground with the rhizome of Anchomanes difformis and then applied topically in the treatment of leprosy. The leaves are warmed, ground, mixed with ash and rubbed on inflamed cervical lymph nodes. A decoction of the plant is used as a treatment against diarrhoea.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows on sandy soil. It suits wet areas. In Malawi it grows below 900 m altitude. In West Africa it grows in open savannah woodland.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds are broadcast at the beginning of rains.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Germination percentages are usually low.

Other Uses

The leaf powder is used as a hair lubricant. Adding the leaf sap to the boiling seed pulp of Vitellaria paradoxa while making shea butter aids with the separation of fat.

Production

Leaves are collected during the rainy season. They are available at other times if there is sufficient soil moisture. They can be dried and stored.

Other Information

It is commonly and widely used in Malawi. It is highly palatable.

Notes

Chemical composition (leaves and seeds): Protein (crude) = 8.5% (dry). Fat = 1.5% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 8,5% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 20.2% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 3.1% (dry). Sucrose = 3.5% (dry). D-glucose = 1.5% (dry). D-fructose = 0.1% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 17.2g. Threonine = 5.1g. Serine = 4.4g. Glutamic acid = 13.3g. Proline = 5.0g. Glycine = 5.7g. Alanine = 6.3g. Valine = 6.5g. Cysteine (performic acid oxidation) = 0.7g. Methionine (performic acid oxidation) = 1.9g. Isoleucine = 5.5g. Leucine = 9.4g. Tyrosine = 4.2g. Phenylalanine = 5.7g. Lysine = 5.2g. Histidine = 2.1g. Arginine = 6.1g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.23% (dry). Potassium = 0.23% (dry). Magnesium = 0.48% (dry). Calcium = 1.48% (dry). Na = 0.02% (dry). Zinc = 36 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 194 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 173 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 15 mg/kg-1 (dry). Aluminium = 137 mg/kg-1 (dry).

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Abadeib, Agbo, Alodi, Benona, Bulantam-o, Bulatam-o, Bungu, Chewe, Chinchesi, Chintengalalwa, Chinyololo, Chitelelu, Darraba t'al goz, Dowoungbaana, Ebolo, False benniseed, False sesame, Foyito, Gblogblo, Idjabo, Katate, Katate, Kpeewori, Lalo dane, Lalu-caminho, Lele, Ludvonca, Lunembwe, Maope, Mlenda mbata, Mulembwe utali, Mulyangumgu, N'tekou, N'zoti, Nkuyamani, Nor, Siwadompei, Tan-tan, Tchaba-laba, Thove, Tikpainn'tissedonte, Tiwadooti, Tobwe, Toubue, Xononm, Yodo, Yoroxlan, Zombwe

References (57)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41
• ABDELMUTI,
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Acipa, A. et al, 2013, Nutritional Profile of some Selected Food Plants of Otwal and Ngai Counties, Oyam District, Northern Uganda. African Journal or Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2)
• Ayantunde, A. A., et al, 2009, Uses of Local Plant Species by Agropastoralists in South-western Niger. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. Vol. 7: 53-66

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