Common Name:

General Information

Corchorus asplenifolius is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing prostrate or suberect annual stems up to 90cm long from a woody rootstock[, ].
The plant is a popular wild vegetable, frequently being harvested from the wild for local use, especially during the rainy season. The leaves are often sold in local markets[]. The plant is also said to have medicinal and insect repellent properties.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and S. Africa.

Habitat

Open woodland; margins of seasonal swamps (vleis or dambos); pyrophyte; compacted sand and gravel; sand with surface limestone; loam, etc.; at elevations from 530 - 3,300 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found mainly in sandy soils in the wild[].
In its native environment, this species is often burnt down to ground level in the dry season, sprouting from the base when the rains return[, ].
An extremely polymorphic species[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked. The mucilaginous texture of the foliage makes it a popular leafy vegetable when consumed together with a coarse staple food[].

The ashes obtained from burning the plant have been used as a substitute for salt[].

Medicinal

The roots are dried, then pounded into a powder, which can be rubbed into incisions on the skin near the affected area when treating snake bites[].

Other Uses

The ashes obtained from burning the plant have been used to dispel ants[].

Propagation

Seed -

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