The genus Dregea is not universally recognised. We are following the treatment in the African Plant Database[], but some other treatments place all species of Dregea in the genus Marsdenia, making this species Marsdenia abyssinica (Hochst.) Schltr.[].

Common Name:

General Information

Dregea abyssinica is a shrub, usually with a cimbing habit, producing stems rich in latex up to 16 metres long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre. Because of its large, white, fragrant flowers it has potential as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal and Gambi east to Eritrea amd Ethiopia, south through Uganda and Kenya, Tanzania to Angola and Zimbabwe; Arabia - Yemen.

Habitat

Forest margins and scrub in secondary forest growth, often on sandy soils along rivers, at elevations from 200 - 1,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

The latex is used as ear drops to treat otitis[, ].

The fruit is cooked in soup and the soup given to children as a strong laxative in case of constipation[].

A bark infusion is taken to treat diarrhoea[].

The fresh roots are chewed as an aphrodisiac[, ].
The mashed root is applied to snakebites[].

The seeds contain pregnane-type glycosides drevogenin A and B[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the stems[]. The strong stems are used as rope when branding cows[].

Propagation

Seed -

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