List of Plants used for Food
 
 
Botanical Name Parts used for Food Availability Remarks
Adansonia digitataraw pulp of the fruit is eaten or prepared into a kind of juiceMay onwardsnaturally only occurs in East Bushmanland
Aloe littoralis, Aloe zebrinared flowers are cooked to make a sauceA. littoralis: May A. zebrina: Febr. - March
Amaranthus hybridus subsp. hybridusraw leaves are cooked as vegetable or souprainy season
Amaranthus thunbergiiraw leaves are cooked as vegetablerainy season
Ancylanthos bainesiiraw fruitscould not be observed
Annona stenophylla subsp. nanaraw fruitsFebruary - March
Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macranthaseeds are baked in hot ashFebruary - May
Burkea africanaedible caterpillars feed on the leavescaterpillars: January - February
Camptorrhiza strumosacorms are eaten raw or baked in hot ashrainy season
Ceropegia sp.raw tuberwhole yeartuber is more a source of water than of food
Ceropegia multiflora subsp. tentaculataraw tuber and raw leavesrainy seasontuber is more important than leaves
Citrullus lanatusroasted seeds and the flesh of the melonrainy season up to Junenon-bitter varieties are cultivated
Clerodendron uncinatumraw fruit fleshSeptember onwards
Coccinia rehmanniiraw or baked tuber and fruits rainy season
Combretum collinumedible gumwhole year
Commiphora cf. angolensisyoung roots are a source of waterwhole year
Corallocarpus bainesiibaked tuberwhole year
Cucumis anguria var. longaculeatuswhole fruit is eaten raw or dried and cookedfresh May and June; dried June onwards for one yearnon-bitter varieties are cultivated
Cucumis metuliferusraw fruit flesh and dried and cooked skinMay onwardsnon-bitter varieties are cultivated
Cyperus cf. fulgensbulb is eaten raw or baked in hot ashrainy season
Dialium englerianumraw leaves and raw fruit fleshleaves: November onwards, fruit: May onwards
Dichapetalum cymosumraw fruit fleshNovember onwardsBe carefully as the skin and the kernel are poisonous!
Diospyros chamaethamnusfruit flesh is sucked or prepared into a non-alcoholic drink, a coffee substitute or a spiritcould not be observed
Dipcadi sp.cooked bulbwhole yearraw bulb is slightly poisonous
Duvalia polita var. politaraw shoots above groundwhole year
Fockea angustifoliaraw tuberwhole yearmost important source of water
Ficus cf. caricaraw fruitsApril - Mayalien tree
Grewia avellanaraw fruitsMarch - October
Grewia bicolorraw fruitsJanuary onwards
Grewia falcistipularaw fruits-largest amongst Grewia fruits
Grewia flavaraw fruitsFebruary onwards
Grewia flavescens var. flavescensraw fruitsMarch onwards
Grewia retinervisraw fruitsJanuary onwards
Guibourtia coleospermaraw seed and red skinAugust onwards
Gymnema sylvestrefruit is roasted in hot ashJune onwards
Hibiscus sabdariffaraw or dried leaves and dried calyxfresh: February onwards, fried: February onwards for almost one yearcultivated and dried in large quantities
Hibiscus cf. schinziileaves are prepared as vegetable or souprainy season
Hoffmannseggia burchellii subsp. burchelliiraw, tuberous rootswhole year
Ipomea sinensis subsp. blepharosepalaleaves raw or cookedJanuary - May
Kedrostis hirtellatuber is baked in hot ashwhole year
Lannea edulis var. edulisraw fruitscould not be observed
Lapeirousia odoratissimaraw tuberrainy seasonrare
Lapeirousia otaviensisdried, pounded and cooked tuberrainy season
Manihot esculentayoung, cooked leavesOctober - Junealien plant, cultivated close to homesteads
Merremia palmataboiled leavesrainy season
Momordica balsaminared pulp covering the seeds is suckedFebruary - July
Ochna pulchraseeds for oilNovember onwards
Oxygonum alatumleaves are eaten raw or cookedrainy season
Pygmaeothamnus zeyheri var. zeyheriraw fruitsJune onwards
Raphionacme velutinatuber is a source of waterwhole year
Rhus marlothiiraw fruitsMarch onwards
Rhus tenuinervisraw fruitsJanuary onwards
Rhynchosia caribaearoots for preparing a porridge or a drinkwhole year
Salacia luebertiifruit flesh is suckedMarch - April
Schinziophyton rautaneniifresh fruit flesh and nutMay onwards, can be stored for one yearthe most important food source
Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffrafruit flesh and nutMay onwardsnaturally only occurs in East Bushmanland
Strychnos cocculoidesfruit fleshNovember - January
Strychnos pungensfruit fleshDecember - January
Terfezia pfeiliibaked truffleMarch to May after a good rainy season
Terminalia sericeaedible gum, edible caterpillars are feeding on the leavesgum: whole year, caterpillars: rainy season
Tylosema esculentumseeds are baked in hot ash, raw tuber is a source of waterseeds: July onwards, tuber: whole year
Vangueria infausta subsp. infaustaraw fruitsJanuary to May
Vigna lobatifoliaroot swellings are eaten raw or bakedwhole year
Ximenia caffra var. caffrafruit fleshDecember onwards
Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronatafruits for distilling a strong spiritcould not be observed
‘Sa!ku’whole fresh pods or dry seeds are boiledcould not be observed
!kowuraw leavesrainy season
 
 
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