Common Name: Sierra Leone Bologi

General Information

Solanecio biafrae is a perennial climbing plant, producing stems up to 3 metres long that twine into other plants for support[]. The plant branches profusely about 50cm above ground level[]..
The plant is an important and very popular leaf crop in west Africa, and is also harvested as a traditional medicine. It is cultivated in West Africa for its edible leaves and commonly sold in local markets[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western Africa - Guinea to Uganda, south to Gabon, DR Congo.

Habitat

An understorey climber in the rainforest, especially in secondary jungle, roadsides, waste places and disturbed land of hilly country[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, found at elevations from sea level to around 1,300 metres[]. It is found in areas where the average annual rainfall is about 1,500mm, often with a distinct dry season[]. It strongly responds to water stress by developing shrivelled stems and yellowing of the leaves, and cannot survive under dry conditions[].
Grows best in a well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter[]. Prefers a position in light shade[].
Crops are produced about 70 days after planting and continue for 1 year or more[]. Plants can be harvested all year round if the flowering stems are removed[].
Yields of 15 kilos per plant per annum are obtained[].
The stems are very tender and break easily, even when handled with care[].
Flowering shoots are removed in order to maximise leaf production[].
There are several cultivars of superior quality[].

Edible Uses

Leaves and young stems - cooked and used as a spinach[, ]. Succulent[]. They are usually cooked with pepper, tomato and onions - in such dishes there is no need for meat or fish because of the excellent properties of the vegetable[]. The leaves are mucilaginous and sometimes they are first steamed in boiling water and then squeezed to remove the mucilage from the leaves. This squeezing is followed by 2 - 3 rinses with cold water to remove the mucilage as completely as possible[].

A leaf-infusion is taken as a drink[, ].

Medicinal

The plant has a reputation as a cough-cure, for heart-troubles, and to be aperitive and tonic, and for these uses it is eaten as a vegetable[].
The plant is pulped into a paste for application to the breasts as a galactogene[, ].
The leaves, or a leaf extract, is used as a wound dressing and to stop bleeding; a leaf extract is used to treat sore eyes[, ].

The sap is taken by draught for treating coughs in children[].
The sap is also rubbed on the body to relieve rheumatic pain, prurigenic allergies and localized oedemas

A preparation is taken by the Igbo of S Nigeria for ‘hot belly’ (Indigestion?)[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant continues to grow in the dry season when planted under the moist conditions of cacao plantations[]. Plants quickly form a dense, weed-excluding canopy under the trees[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - viability tends to be very poor, generally less than 2%. It should be sown in pervious humid soil under light shade. Germination takes several days[]. Spontaneous seedlings are sometimes collected for transplanting[].
Semi-ripe cuttings 10 - 15cm long with 4 - 6 nodes are used. It is recommended to remove the leaves and tops before planting[]. Cuttings are planted straight into their permanent positions in moist well-drained soil rich in organic matter and always under a tree or shrub for shade and support[].
Cuttings of mature shoots up to 25cm long[].

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