Sesamum angolense
Welw.
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(c) Rob Palmer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Rob Palmer
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Description
A herb. The stem is erect. It grows 1-2.5 m tall. There are many narrow leaves. They are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are purple. They are in groups 5-7 cm long. The fruit is a capsule that has 4 angled sides and has 4 furrows along it. It is finely hairy. It has a short, broad beak. The seeds are black.
Edible Uses
The leaves are wilted and cooked until slimy, or dried and stored for later use. The black seeds can be roasted and eaten or pressed to extract oil, making this a minor vegetable of local importance.
Traditional Uses
The leaves are wilted then cooked and eaten. They are slimy. The leaves can be dried and stored. The seeds can be roasted and eaten or used to extract oil.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves are pounded, soaked in water and the infusion used to treat constipation and to stop vomiting. The leaves are pounded with water and the liquid poured into the eyes and also over the ears, nose and mouth to cure smallpox. An infusion of the roots is drunk at the time of labour to hasten delivery. The roots and leaves are used for treating measles and poisoning.
Distribution
A tropical plant. In Malawi it grows best at 1,000 m altitude and will grow to 2,100 m altitude. In Tanzania it grows between 400-2,400 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Asia, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Other Uses
The leaves are soaked in cold water which is then used as a shampoo that oils and straightens the hair. The leaves are used as a substitute for soap.
Production
Leaves are collected during the rainy season. Dried leaves can be stored for several months. They can also be powdered and stored.
Other Information
A minor vegetable of local importance.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 78.1 | 314 | 75 | 14.2 | — | — | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Chewe, Chikalenda, Chinchesi, Chitowe, Lilendi, Mapoe, Mlenda wima, Mtsukanthomba, Mukonde, Muya, Nahakwahakwa, Nkuyamani, Nyolo-nyolo, Sambwe, Thengo, Zambwe
References (18)
- Ann. Cons. Ultramar. (Portugal), Parte Nao Off. ser. 1, 55:588. 1859 ("1858") (Apont.) (Trans. Linn. Soc. London 27:51. 1869)
- Aparicio, H., et al, 2021, Ethnobotanical study of medicinal and edible plants used in Nhamacoa area, Manica province-Mozambique. South African Journal of Botany 139 (2021) 318-328
- Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 53
- Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 290
- Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 463
Show all 18 references Hide references
- Jansen, P.C.M., 2004. Sesamum angolense Welw. [Internet] Record from Protabase. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa), Wageningen, Netherlands. < http://database.prota.org/search.htm>. Accessed 22 October 2009
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 100
- Kakeya, 1976,
- Malaisse, F., 1997, Se nourrir en floret claire africaine. Approche ecologique et nutritionnelle. CTA., p 67
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 211
- Mpasiwakomu, R. A., 2017, The Diversity and Utilization of Wild Edible and Medicinal Plant Species found in Uvinza Miombo Woodlands, Tanzania. M. Sc. thesis University of Tanzania.
- Msola, D. K., 2007, The role of Wild Foods in Household Income and Food Security in Mufundi District, Tanzania. Morogoro, Tanzania. p 46
- Nyongesa, B. O., et al, 2014, Genetic relationship between sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and related wild species based on chromosome counts and isozyme markers. African Journal of Agricultural Research. 9(10) pp. 1052-1060
- Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 160
- Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 606
- Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 73
- Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 224
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
