Acanthaceae FAMILY

Duosperma crenatum

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

1/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is toxic to humans when the leaves are mature and turn yellow[ 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. ].

Botanical Description

Duosperma crenatum is a perennial plant with erect stems up to 120cm tall that arise from a woody rootstock. These stems become more or less woody, the plant forming a tangle of branches and sometimes forming thickets[ 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 sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeEastern and southern Africa - Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa.

HabitatA common thicket-forming species in Acacia-Commiphora bushland at elevations from 600 - 1,700 metres[ 610 Title Flora of Tropical East Africa Publication Author Beentje H.J. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814 Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 2002 ISBN Description Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa. ]. The plant seems hardly ever to be eaten by cattle, and is therefore favoured by slight to moderate overgrazing[ 610 Title Flora of Tropical East Africa Publication Author Beentje H.J. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814 Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 2002 ISBN Description Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa. ].