Page 11 - feb21

forager’s tips

edible plants - Azanza garckeana

Azanza garckeana, Morojwa, snot apple
Also called African chewing gum tree, Azanza garckeana is
indigenous to Botswana. It is a small shrub or semi-deciduous
tree, 3–10 m tall. Trees flower from December, they are large
beautiful crinkly yellow flowers with a maroon corolla and usually
have ripe fruit from February onwards. The fruits are spherical,
and woody, yellowish to brownish green and hairy when mature.
Despite their hard woody nature the fruits are edible and chewed like
a chewing gum, tasting sweet and a little slimy.

medicinal plants - Phyllanthus fraternus
Phyllanthus fraternus, known in Ghana as Bommaguwakyi,
this is an erect, indigenous annual plant that grows easily in dry
conditions, up to 50cm, often found in wastelands. The plant is
harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and black dye.
The leaves are strongly diuretic and used to treat dysentery. A
plant extract is applied externally to treat skin infections, bruises,
sores and ulcers. Fresh roots are taken against jaundice. In India it
is combined with other Phyllanthus species and sold as a herbal
medicine called ‘Bhumyamlaki’, which is considered acrid, carminative,
and cooling and used for a variety of ailments.
poisonous plants - Cycas revoluta
Cycas revoluta, Sago palm, is of all the cycads, the most
popular in cultivation, and although all parts of the plant are
poisonous, Cycad sago, like palm sago, is a major staple food.
The sago is obtained by cutting out the pith, making a flour, and
washing it carefully and repeatedly to leach out the natural toxins.
The plant in its natural state is extremely poisonous to animals and
humans if ingested, the Cycasin toxin can cause ALS, Parkinson’s,
prostate cancer and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Effects of
ingestion can include permanent internal damage and death.
invasive plants - Verbesina encelioides

Verbesina encelioides, Golden crownbeard is native to
the Americas, and found naturalised almost throughout Botswana. If
you’re visiting Letlhakeng, you will see a meadow of yellow flowers
surrounding the village. The species grows well on disturbed sites
and retards the development of other local species. It reproduces by
seed, which are easily dispersed by wind and water. Controlling the
spread is difficult as it grows quickly and has been reported to have
poisonous toxins that are a threat for grazing goats and cattle. Remove
manually when at all possible, and dispose of it responsibly.

11 Text & Photos by S.C