Gisekia pharnaceoides

Description

A herb. It lays along the ground. It keeps growing from year to year. It is 20-50 cm long. It grows out from a central spot. The leaves have white dots. The leaves are leathery and shiny with a groove down the middle. The leaf blade is 1-2.5 cm long by 4-10 mm wide. The leaves are in pairs opposite one another or in rings. The flowers are in dense groups without stalks. There are 5-20 flowers. The flowers are green. They can also be pink or purple with a white centre. The seeds are black and smooth and with very small pits.

Edible Uses

The leaves are eaten as greens and used as a potherb, particularly when food is scarce. They can be dried and stored, and are sometimes used as a flavoring or spice. The seeds are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are eaten as greens. They are a potherb when food is scarce. They can be dried and stored. They are sometimes used as a flavouring or spice. Caution: Because it contains poisonous substances it should only ever be eaten in small amounts.

Medicinal Uses

The whole plant is eaten as a general strength restorative, e.g. after miscarriage. The cooked green leaves are eaten to treat asthma The plant is considered to be a purgative in some areas, whilst in others it is taken to cure diarrhoea. It is used as a taenicide, but the plant should be consumed with great caution. The leaves are rubbed on swellings and the stem, pounded in butter, is placed on aching muscles. The sap of the plant is used against warts. The roots are made into a chest medicine. The seeds probably possess anthelmintic properties. Several phenolic acids have been identified in the vegetative parts, including p-OH-benzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid. Ferulic and sinapic acids were absent, although these are usually present in the Aizoaceae. The tannin-like principles α- and β-gisekia have been found in the seed. Tannins are present in the whole plant.

Known Hazards

Contains poisonous substances and should only be eaten in small amounts.

Distribution

It grows in open sandy places often near the sea. It grows in the tropics and subtropics. It grows in dry sandy places. It grows between 230-2,440 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa*, Algeria, America, Angola, Asia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indochina, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pakistan, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Succeeds in the drier areas of tropical and subtropical climates.

Other Information

It is only an occasional vegetable. It has low palatability.

Notes

There are about 8 Gisekia species. There is only one genus in the family Gisekiaceae. It is also put in the family Aizoaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Balu-ka-sag, Co let, Dedman, Gangala, Hingala, Isaka dasari kura, Isaka-dantu-kura, Isaka-dasari-kura, Jangli sag, Ji su cao, Manal-keera, Manal-keerai, Masondroso, Morang, Mwana-ngira, Numnelli keeray, Omindjulu, Sareli, Valuka, Walu-chi-bhaji

References (34)

• Al-Sodany, Y. M., et al, 2013, Medicinal Plants in Saudi Arabia: I. Sarrwat Mountains at Taif, KSA. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (4): 134-145
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 236
• Arinathan, V., et al, 2007, Wild edibles used by Palliyars of the western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 163-168
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
• Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 81

More from Gisekiaceae

Gisekia africana