Commelinaceae FAMILY

Commelina africana

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Commelina africana is a very variable small herbaceous perennial plant; the stems trail along the ground with some erect branches. The plant has a thickened, fibrous root system[ 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 gathered from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeTropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Somalia, south to S. Africa; Madagascar; Arabian Peninsula.

HabitatOpen sunny places in secondary regrowth and disturbed areas; also as a weed on farms, 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. ].