Chlorophytum anceps
(Baker) Kativu
Grass flower
(c) Tony Benn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Benn
(c) Tony Benn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Benn
What to Eat
Edible parts: Roots, Flowers
The small root swellings are cleaned and eaten, especially by children, and the flowers are mixed with other leaves as a relish.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 800-1600 mm. It grows at an altitude of 1,200-1,500 m.
Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Malawi, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A small herb. It is a lily with grass like leaves. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 25 cm tall. The rhizome and base of the stem are covered with grey-brown fibres. The flower stalk is pale green, flattened and 20 cm long. The flowers are in a short spike. They are large and white. They have 6 lobes. These have a brown streak on the back.
Other Information
The root swellings are eaten especially by children.
Notes
There are about 50 Anthericum species. Also put in the family Anthericaceae and Liliaceae.
Names & Synonyms
References (4)
- Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 33 (As Anthericum anceps)
- Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O., 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 343 (Genus)
- Tredgold, M.H., 1986, Food Plants of Zimbabwe. Mambo Press. p 34 (As Anthericum anceps)
- Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 25 (Anthericum sp.)
