Common Name:

General Information

Psophocarpus grandiflorus is a perennial climbing plant growing from a fibrous rootstock; the stems can be up to 5 metres long, they scramble over the ground, twining into the surrounding vegetation for support[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. A plant of multipurpose utility in Zaire, where it is occasionally cultivated[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Uganda, eastern DR Congo

Habitat

Upland bushland, forest and grassland; edges of marshy areas, in steep valleys with small streams in Pennisetum associations and twining on Cyperus trees; at elevations from 1,600 - 2,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally require a sunny position, growing best in a moist but well-drained, slightly acid loamy soil[].
Plants do not flower if growing in the shade (unless the higher shoots grow into the sun) or in high nutrient soils[].
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

Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Young seedpods - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[]. The seedpods are around 40 - 90mm long and 7 - 15mm wide[].

Mature seeds - cooked[]. The seeds are roasted and used as a nutritious snack[]. The oblong-ellipsoid seeds are 7 - 9mm long and 6 - 8mm wide[].

Medicinal

The strong, twining shoots are used as a tourniquet to constrict blood flow following injury[]/

Other Uses

The leaves are used to darken statuary and other artifacts[]. Freshly carved wood is rubbed with the leaves, then wrapped in more leaves and finally placed in a muddy area such as a marsh. The wood becomes darker and looks more like an antique than a new carving[].

The strong, twining shoots are used to tie loads for carrying[].

Propagation

Seed - requires pre-treatment. Pre-soaking for 12 - 24 hours in warm water should soften the hard seedcoat and allow the seed to swell. If it does not swell, then making a small nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) should allow the seed to take up water[].

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