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Summary
Sierra Leone Bologi, Solanecio biafrae, is a tropical climbing herb with succulent leaves, long leaf stalks, and creamy white flowers in rounded clusters. It is not tolerant to drought and grows up to 3 m long. A commercially cultivated vegetable in Western Africa, the leaves and young stems are cooked and eaten. Leaf infusion, on the other hand, is consumed as a drink. The leaves are also used as a substitute for tea. Further, the plant has medicinal properties against cough, heart problems, wounds, sore eyes, rheumatic pain, edemas, and prurigenic allergies. It can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
Physical Characteristics
Solanecio biafrae is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 2 m (6ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
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 can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Crassocephalum biafrae S.Moore Senecio biafrae Oliv. & Hiern
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Stem
Edible Uses: Drink
Leaves and young stems - cooked and used as a spinach[300 , 332 ]. Succulent[332 ]. 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[299 ]. 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[299 ]. A leaf-infusion is taken as a drink[299 , 332 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antirheumatic Antitussive Appetizer Ophthalmic Tonic
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[332 ]. The plant is pulped into a paste for application to the breasts as a galactogene[299 , 332 ]. 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[299 , 332 ]. The sap is taken by draught for treating coughs in children[332 ]. 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?)[332 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: The plant continues to grow in the dry season when planted under the moist conditions of cacao plantations[299 ]. Plants quickly form a dense, weed-excluding canopy under the trees[299 ]. Other Uses None known
Special Uses
Food Forest Ground Cover
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, found at elevations from sea level to around 1,300 metres[299 ]. It is found in areas where the average annual rainfall is about 1,500mm, often with a distinct dry season[299 ]. It strongly responds to water stress by developing shrivelled stems and yellowing of the leaves, and cannot survive under dry conditions[299 ]. Grows best in a well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter[300 ]. Prefers a position in light shade[300 ]. Crops are produced about 70 days after planting and continue for 1 year or more[300 ]. Plants can be harvested all year round if the flowering stems are removed[299 ]. Yields of 15 kilos per plant per annum are obtained[300 ]. The stems are very tender and break easily, even when handled with care[299 ]. Flowering shoots are removed in order to maximise leaf production[300 ]. There are several cultivars of superior quality[332 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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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[299 ]. Spontaneous seedlings are sometimes collected for transplanting[299 ]. Semi-ripe cuttings 10 - 15cm long with 4 - 6 nodes are used. It is recommended to remove the leaves and tops before planting[299 ]. 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[299 ]. Cuttings of mature shoots up to 25cm long[300 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Ota eke, Worowo, Yankonfeh.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, West Africa.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(Oliv. & Hiern) C.Jeffrey
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Solanecio biafrae
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