Cleomaceae FAMILY

Cleome hirta

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Cleome hirta is a bushy annual to short-lived perennial plant with an erect, much-branched stem, growing up to 1.5 metres tall. The stem is sticky, densely covered with glandular hairs and stalked glands that are also found on other parts of the plant[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeEastern and southern Africa - Ethiopia and Somalia, south through southern and eastern DR Congo to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, S. Africa and Madaga

HabitatDisturbed areas in dry savannah grassland, particularly along roadsides. A farm weed and common near cattle enclosures at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ].