Sphenostylis stenocarpa
(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms
African yam bean
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Leaves, Tubers, Root, Pods, Vegetable
Immature seedpods are cooked and used as a vegetable; the pods grow up to 25cm long and 15mm wide. The seeds are rich in protein and are boiled and eaten as a vegetable or added to soups; each seed is about 9mm long. The roots, which have white flesh and a flavour similar to potato, can be eaten raw or cooked and are also rich in protein. Leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 1800 m altitude. It grows in grassland and woodland and sometimes in marshy sites. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia*, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A vigorous climbing vine. It is a herb that grows 1.5-2 m high. It has tuberous roots. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They are 14 cm long and 5 cm wide. The flowers are pink, purple or greenish-white. They are 2.5 cm long. They are on stout stalks in the axils of leaves. The seed pods are smooth. They are flat but have both edges raised. They are 25-30 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The seeds vary in shape, size and colour. They can be 1 cm long by 0.7 cm wide. They can be cream or brown. There are small narrow tubers under the ground. They can be 5-7.5 cm long and weigh 50-150 g. The flesh is white and watery.
Nutrition Score: 60/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds | 0 | 1578 | 378 | 1.8 | — | — | 550 | — |
| Seeds | 9 | 1470 | 352 | 19.2 | — | — | — | — |
| Tubers | 64 | 542 | 130 | 3.8 | — | — | — | — |
| Seeds boiled | 67.9 | 485 | 115 | 7 | — | — | 1.3 | 1.1 |
How to Grow
It can be grown from seed or tubers.
Propagation: Sow seed in situ. Division of tubers is also an option.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria that form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Sphenostylis stenocarpa, the African yam bean, is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae which is native to Africa. It is an important source of food in many parts of Africa. The tubers are fried, boiled or roasted, and are higher than the seeds in protein.
Production
Tubers are ready for harvest about 8 months after planting. The seeds are produced after 5 months. Tubers can weigh 500 g.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The tubers are eaten especially by children.
Names & Synonyms
Adagora barracha, Amalumbwe, Chinaka, Chinkhoma, Diegemtenguere, Girigiri, Ground Squirrel’s bean, Igname haricot, Mpempo, N'taco, Nkhoma, Norouko, Nsama, Odudu, Okpa odudu, Pempo, Sese
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