Sphenostylis stenocarpa

Botanical Description

Sphenostylis stenocarpa is a perennial climbing plant producing twining stems around 1 - 3 metres long from a tuberous rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground, climbing into the surrounding vegetation for support. The plant is harvested from the wild and also cultivated as a food. It is an important root crop in Africa, with a high potential for cultivation in other areas of the world[ 322 Title Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 2 Vegetables. Publication Author Publisher National Academy Press Year 2006 ISBN 0309103339 Description Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as vegetables in Africa. ]. It is a staple food in many parts of tropical Africa, cultivated especially for its edible roots, but also for its leaves, seeds and seedpods[ 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. , 322 Title Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 2 Vegetables. Publication Author Publisher National Academy Press Year 2006 ISBN 0309103339 Description Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as vegetables in Africa. , 1613 Title Economic Botany of Sphenostylis (Leguminosae) Publication Economic Botany, vol. 46, no. 3, 1992 , pp. 262-275 Author Potter D. Website http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255442 Publisher Year 1992 ISBN Description ].