Eriosema cordifolium
Hochst. ex A. Rich.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Eriosema cordifolium is a trailing, perennial herb, with a single branched, slender, flexuous stem around 7 - 15cm long, occasionally reaching 30cm.It grows from a tuberous rootstock around 30 x 12mm[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
East Africa - Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, southern DR Congo
Habitat
Grassland; pathways; woodland; roadsides; grassy savanna on stony ground; 1500-2500 metres[
328- Title
- African Flowering Plants Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
- Publisher
- Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.12 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Root[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
729- Title
- Traditional African Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Guarino L. (Editor)
- Publisher
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute; Rome, Italy.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 92-9043-322-1
- Description
- The proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and Use 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya
]. Used as a vegetable[
729- Title
- Traditional African Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Guarino L. (Editor)
- Publisher
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute; Rome, Italy.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 92-9043-322-1
- Description
- The proceedings of the IPGRI International Workshop on Genetic Resources of Traditional Vegetables in Africa: Conservation and Use 29-31 August 1995, ICRAF-HQ, Nairobi, Kenya
].The root can be turnip or parsnip shaped, it is around 10 - 15mm in diameter and 20 - 30mm long[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
