Oxygonum alatum
Burch.
Polygonaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Oxygonum alatum is a semi-succulent, annual plant with procumbent stems that are much branched from the crown of the root. The stems can be 3 - 30cm long[
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.
,
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
394- Title
- Flora Capensis
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E.
- Website
- http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls=
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1909
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
Range
Southern Africa - southern Angola, southern Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.
Habitat
Deep sandy soils in desert areas[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. On hot and somewhat rocky sands, in places neglected after cultivation, and by roadsides[
544- Title
- Cataloge of African Plants Collected by Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch in 1853 - 1861
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Longmans & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In 6 volumes, it gives botanical descriptions and some uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.20 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in poor, sandy soils[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The plants are polygamous - the flowers can be either bisexual or unisexual[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves or the whole young plant - cooked[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. A refreshing, acid flavour, very similar to sorrel[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
544- Title
- Cataloge of African Plants Collected by Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch in 1853 - 1861
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hiern. W.P.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Longmans & Co.; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In 6 volumes, it gives botanical descriptions and some uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The leaves also provide moisture[
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Collected in large quantities, they are cooked briefly and then used as a side dish[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
]. They can also be added to soups, sauces etc[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
Fruit - raw. A slightly sour but refreshing taste[
775- Title
- Gemsbok Bean and Kalahari Truffle
- Publication
-
- Author
- Leffers A.
- Publisher
- Gamsberg MacMillan; Namibia.
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 99916-0-491-X
- Description
- Details of the traditional uses of over 200 species of plants in northeastern Namibia. Written for the non-expert, there is usually at least one photograph with each plant entry.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
