Pentanisia schweinfurthii
Hiern
Rubiaceae
Pentanisia crassifolia K.Krause
Pentanisia rhodesiana S.Moore
Pentanisia sericocarpa S.Moore
Common Name:
General Information
Pentanisia schweinfurthii is an erect, branched, herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 30cm tall. The plant produces several stems that arise from a woody rootstock[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
Habitat
Grasslands and woodlands, always in areas subject to burning; it is fire-resistant. In eastern Africa it grows at elevations of 800 - 2,250 metres[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Found particularly on bare soil and other exposed areas and poorish grassland subject to burning[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.25 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant is a common weed of cultivation[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plant survives bush fires, regrowing quickly from the rootstock[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Edible Uses
The crushed leaves, and the tips of flowering shoots, are eaten as a cooked vegetable, particularly in the dry season[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A potash is commonly added to the dish as it cooks[
466- Title
- Useful Plants of Nyasaland
- Publication
-
- Author
- Williamson J.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland.
- Year
- 1955
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details of the uses of almost 500 species of plants.
].
The ash of the burned plant is used as salt[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of leaves and roots is taken to stop diarrhoea[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
