Erythrococca africana
(Baill.) Prain
Robert Taylor (via Wikimedia Commons)
Wikimedia Commons (via Wikimedia Commons)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves - flavouring, Vegetable
The leaves are used as a flavoring and vegetable. They are traditionally dried and powdered to help tenderize meat.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in deciduous and secondary forests in West Africa. It grows along river banks.
Africa, Benin, Central Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West Africa,
How to Identify
A tropical shrub or small tree reaching about 3 m high, native to deciduous and secondary forests in West Africa, often found along riverbanks. It belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
Medicinal Uses
The powdered dry leaves are taken with food as a mild laxative. The crushed leaves are applied to whitlow.
Notes
There are only a few Erythrococca species. They are in Africa.
Names & Synonyms
Budelemi, Gyigyam forowa
References (4)
- Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.
- Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 299
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Zon, A.P.M. van der, Grubben, G.J.H., 1976, Les legumes-feuilles spontanes et cultives du Sud-Dahomey, Communication 65, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 63
