Common Name:

General Information

Adenodolichos punctatus is an erect to ascending, occasionally prostrate perennial plant growing from a stout, woody rootstock; it can grow 40 - 200cm tall. The stems usually become more or less woody and often flower when leafless[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Angola, southern DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland, woodland edges and stream banks, semi-chipya woodland, chipya and dry grasslands, after burns; at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres[]. Subspecies bussei is also found in old garden sites (i.e. native cultivations)[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Adenodolichos species are usually among the first plants to appear after bush fires, resprouting from their underground rootstock[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Seedpods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. The seedpods are usually around 42 - 57mm long and 11 - 15mm wide, those of subspecies bussei generally being larger that the type species[].

Medicinal

The roots have medicinal properties[]. No more details

Other Uses

The coarse stems of several species in this genus are used as roofing ties in traditional hut construction[].

Propagation

Seed -

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