Cleome monophylla
L.
Single-leaved cleome
(c) Grant Reed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Grant Reed
(c) Moira FitzPatrick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Moira FitzPatrick
(c) Prajwal J Ullal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Prajwal J Ullal
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Flowers, Fruit, Seeds - oil, Seeds - flavouring, Vegetable
Leaves are cooked and used like spinach. Young shoots and flowers can also be eaten. The pungent seed is used as a mustard substitute.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in the Sahel regions in West Africa. It grows in areas with a rainfall of about 100 mm per year. It grows in hot arid places. It grows between 30-2,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A small annual herb. It is erect and hairy. It grows 30-60 cm high. It can be spreading. The leaves are simple and undivided. They are 2.5-8 cm long and narrow. The flowers are pink and purple. The pods are long and thin. They are 5-11 mm long by 3 mm wide. They contain several small flat seeds.
Nutrition Score: 43/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 76.5 | 297 | 71 | 21.9 | — | — | — | — |
| Leaves cooked | 73 | 17 | 3 | — | — | 9.2 | 0.43 | — |
How to Grow
Prefers a light fertile soil in a warm dry sunny position with plenty of room to spread. A frost tender plant, it can be grown as a summer annual in Britain.
Propagation: Surface sow or only lightly cover seed in spring in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes 5–14 days at 25°c. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in late spring. Daytime temperatures below 20°c depress germination, though a night-time drop to 20°c is necessary.
Medicinal Uses
The pounded root is placed on the lips to restore consciousness in cases of fainting.
Other Uses
No other uses are known for this plant.
Wikipedia
A compact annual reaching 0.5 m in height. Frost tender with foliage from May to October. Hermaphroditic flowers. Prefers light sandy and medium loamy well-drained soils in mildly acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Cannot tolerate shade and adapts to dry or moist soil.
Production
Leaves are collected during the rainy season.
Other Information
It is widely eaten throughout Africa.
Notes
There are about 150 Cleome species. It can be a problem weed. The Vitamin C content is 4.3 mg/100 g dry weight.
Names & Synonyms
African cabbage, Akeo-jok, Doran, Hurhuria sag, Isiwisa esiluhlaza, Kanzota, Kawal, Kayuniyuni, Kazuamwalonde, Lerokwa, Lesanye, Lovedu, Lutegeri, Mhuu, Mmusa-pelo monyenyae, Mthoathoa, Musemwasemwa, Mushangishangi, Mutohotoho, Mutitimbudzi, muTsemwaysemwa, Mwanjerenjedza, Njerenjedza, Nsonyo, Nyiragasogereza, Ranga-sorisha, Rimin samara, Sekalerothane, Shimbangana, Shinburbucha, Sosa, Spindlepod, Thokothokgo, Thotha sirio, Tota sirio, Vellai
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