Common Name:

General Information

Pachycarpus spurius is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing 1 - 5 annual stems from a long, cylindrical, vertical rootstock, sometimes with a few fusiform laterals. The erect, unbranched stems contain a white latex and can be 1 - 2 metres long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - southeast DR Congo, southern Tanzania, Malawi.

Habitat

Grassland and Brachystegia or Protea scrubby woodland, sometimes in disturbed sites, at elevations from 1,200 - 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The pounded leaves are mixed with water and drunk as a galactogogue[].

The tuber is eaten by men to improve fertility[].

Other Uses

The stem fibre is used for making twine and rope[].

Propagation

Seed -

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