Cyphostemma serpens
(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Desc.
Alango, Obwombwe
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(c) Jens-Christian Svenning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jens-Christian Svenning
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Jens-Christian Svenning, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Description
A trailing or climbing herb. It can grow 2 m long and form mats. It can have tendrils. The rootstock is swollen and woody. It is 30 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The stems are green and flushed red at the nodes. The fruit are round and red and in clusters.
Edible Uses
The leaves and fruit are eaten as vegetables; the ripe fruit are especially popular with children.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in grassland and seasonally flooded areas. It grows between 500 and 2,250 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Burundi, Chad, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,
Other Information
The ripe fruit are eaten especially by children.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Ebo, Lorrpo
References (10)
- Bussman, R. W., et al., 2006, Plant Use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2:22
- Glover et al, 1966b, (As Cyphostemma orondo)
- Goode, P., 1989, Edible Plants of Uganda. FAO p 30 (As Cyphostemma orondo)
- Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 46 (As Cyphostemma orondo)
- Ichikawa, M., 1980, The Utilization of Wild Food Plants by the Suiei Dorobo in Northern Kenya. J. Anthrop. Soc. Nippon. 88(1): 25-48 (As Cyphostemma orondo)
Show all 10 references Hide references
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 128 (As Cissus orondo)
- Johns, T., and Kokwaro, J.O., 1991, Food Plants of the Luo of Siayo District, Kenya. Economic Botany 45(1), pp 103-113 (As Cyphostemma orondo)
- Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 202 (As Cyphostemma orondo)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
