Common Name:

General Information

Cyathula orthacantha is an annual herb, sometimes growing along the ground but usually erect and much branched, growing up to 1.5 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. The leaves are sometimes sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Eritrea, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Many habitats, but most common in grassland with Acacia scrub on disturbed stony ground, quite often near rivers and waterholes, thrives in sandy loam or alluvium but also on volcanic or heavy black soils, at elevations from 600 - 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can become a troublesome weed within its native range[].

Edible Uses

Leaves are used as vegetable. Tender leaves are cut into pieces, washed, cooked, groundnut paste added and then the whole is eaten with ugali or rice[].

Medicinal

The roots are pounded and soaked in warm water and then drunk 2 - 3 times a day to treat stomach-ache[].

The leaves are dried and pounded, mixed with pounded castor oil seeds and the powder applied on wounds twice a day[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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