Common Name:

General Information

Trochomeria macrocarpa is a perennial climbing plant producing annual stems 10 - 30mm in diameter and up to 6 metres long (though generally less) from a perennial fleshy, tuberous rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground or climb into the surrounding vegetation, supporting themselves by means of tendrils[, , ].
The root is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food. There are conflicting reports about the edibility of the fruit.

Known Hazards

The fruit is non-toxic, but in The Gambia an unstated part of the plant is recognized as poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - drier areas from Senegal to southern Sudan, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, bushland and savannah at elevations from 600 - 2,400 metres[, ]. Among rocks on granite/quartzite outcrops and wooded ridges, also on flat areas, along river banks and even rarely in disturbed ground[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	3.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it can be found at elevations from 600 - 2,500 metres. In S. Africa the plant is found in summer-rainfall areas where the mean annual rainfall can range from 600 - 1,000mm[].
Found wild in very sunny to very shady areas[]. Prefers well-drained or moist, sandy, loamy and/or rocky soils[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. The large yam-like root, often deep in the ground, is dug up when mature after the rains; it is boiled or roasted and eaten[, ]. Not all the tuber is eaten - the core, for example, is often discarded as being too bitter[]. The ellipsoid-ovoid tuber can be up to 60cm in diameter and can be buried up to 60cm below ground level[, ].

There is a report that the fruit is eaten, and can keep a person going for the whole day without the need for other food[]. However, there are also reports that the fruit is not eaten[]. The fruit can easily be confused with the highly toxic fruit of Adenia digitata[]. The bright orange-red oval, fleshy fruit are around 20mm long[].

Medicinal

The root is sometimes used medicinally[]. No more information given.

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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