Common Name:

General Information

Schouwia purpurea is a bushy, annual plant that can grow up to 90cm tall, with the stem becoming woody at the base[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fuel.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - throughout northern Africa and the Sahel to Somalia and into Arabia.

Habitat

Mountain ridges at elevations around 1,500 metres[]. A desert and savannah plant, sometimes occurring in large stands after rains, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Schouwia purpurea is a plant of arid and semiarid areas of the tropics and subtropics of Africa, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Schouwia purpurea is of entomological importance since it provides feed and shelter for the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, which sometimes develops migrating populations of plague size and may destroy crops completely[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[]. The young leaves are eaten in salads, adding an agreeable flavour somewhat like garden rocket (Eruca vesicaria)[]. Older leaves are cooked and can be dried for later use[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Dry plants are burnt as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: a square has how many sides?