Common Name: Naras

General Information

Naras is a low-growing but widely spreading herbaceous perennial[]. It is a typical desert plant, with an extensive far-ranging root system[].
Before the introduction of maize into southern Africa, this was a traditional staple food for the local people[]. Archaeological evidence indicates that it has been a staple food for at least 8,000 years, and was transported and perhaps even traded that long ago[]. It has not been domesticated and attempts to introduce it elsewhere have not been successful[]. It is still much valued as a food by the local peoples for some of whom it can be their main food for about 4 months of the year[]. They also sell some of the seeds in the markets of nearby towns[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Namib Desert from southern Angola to S. Africa.

Habitat

Sandy dunes of mostly dry river beds where subsurface water is available.[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland areas in the very arid tropical deserts of southern Africa, where it is able to survive even in years when there is no rain[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 125 - 250mm, but tolerates 75 - 450mm[].
Plants require a well-drained sandy soil on the poor side and a position in full sun[, ]. They can succeed in dry, saline soils, often growing where underground water is available[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[]. The leaves have been modified into thorns, which acts to give protection against grazing animals and also to minimize water-loss, making the plant very drought tolerant[].
A deep-rooting plant, the roots can go down 40 metres into the soil in search of water[].
A dioecious species, male and female plants must be grown if fruits and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or preserved[, ]. Juicy, with a pleasant, sweet-acid flavour[, ]. The fruit is up to 7cm long[] and weighs up to 900g[].
Ripe fruits are collected and either buried in the soil or left in the sun for softening, after which they are peeled and then boiled until the seeds become loose[]. The pulp is allowed to thicken and turns into a dark orange colour. After separating the seeds, the thick remaining pulp is poured out and allowed to dry in the sun. It solidifies in a few days, forming flat leathery cakes, called ‘goa-garibeb’, which are then cut into strips or rolled up for storage[]. These fruity rolls have good keeping quality and can be chewed or added to porridge for the remainder of the year[].

Seed - raw or cooked[, , ]. Eaten roasted or boiled, they can also be stored for later use[]. They can be ground into flour for cooking with other dishes[]. They are a good substitute for almonds, and have been exported to bakeries in Cape Town for use in confectionery[]. The kernel has a soft consistency like butter[]. The seeds contain about 45% oil[]. The seed is up to 15mm long[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[].

Medicinal

The bitter roots have medicinal value. Either chewed or made into a decoction, they are used to treat nausea, stomach-ache, venereal diseases, kidney problems, arteriosclerosis and chest pains[].

The fresh fruit is said to relieve stomach pains[].

The crushed root mixed with fat is used to heal wounds[].

Oil from the raw or boiled seeds is used as a skin moisturizer and to protect the skin from sunburn[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be grown in shifting sand dunes[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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