Common Name:

General Information

Perichasma laetificata is a climbing shrub with stems 5 metres or more long and 4cm in diameter growing from a tuberous rhizome[, ]. The stems scramble over the ground and twine into the surrounding vegetation, where they can grow high into the trees[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food, snake repellent and emergency tying material.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Angola.

Habitat

Rain-forest, fringing forest; fallow fields, clearings; at elevations up to 900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	4.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

The roots are considered edible[].

Medicinal

A maceration of the leaves is drunk to treat snakebites[]. Water with local salt, in which the leaves have been crushed, is given to babies as a remedy for constipation[].
The leaf sap is applied to scarifications made in the forehead to cure very severe migraine[].

Other Uses

The rope-like stems are used as a tying material[].

A piece of stem is tied round the ankle to prevent snakebites[].
Stems are made into girdles and bracelets for the ankles and wrists of infants in order to assist them in walking[].

Propagation

Seed -

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