Baccharoides

Baccharoides hymenolepis

Physical Characteristics

Baccharoides hymenolepis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Insects, Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Sudan, Ethiopia, eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zi

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Condiment Leaves - raw or cooked. Eaten in salads, as a potherb or used as a garnish[ 299 ]. The leaves can be dried for later use[ 299 ]. The leaves are less bitter than related species that are used in the same ways, such as bitterleaf (Gymnanthemum amygdalinum)[ 299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antitumor Purgative The plant is used medicinally as a cure for pneumonia[ 299 ]. Juice from the crushed leaves is used to treat jaundice, and also diarrhoea in babies[ 299 ]. A hot leaf placed on a wound is said to stop bleeding[ 299 ]. A root decoction is used as a purgative and to treat abdominal pains[ 299 ]. The sesquiterpene lactone vernolepin was isolated from plant material collected in Ethiopia. This compound showed antitumour activity and platelet anti-aggregating properties[ 299 ].

Known Hazards

None known