Winter cassia, Sticky pod
A tropical plant. It grows in the drier savannah in tropical Africa. It suits hot arid places with a marked dry season. It can grow in rocky soils. It grows from 1500-1850 m altitude, and up to 2400 m altitude in Ethiopia. It re-grows after fire. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds. It grows in woodland and rocky hillsides at medium to low altitudes.
Also known as:
Busa, Hanqarar, Isihaqa esincinyane, Kadate, Kafungu-nasya, Karahaleko, Mbaraka, Mhumba, Mkundekunde, Mlewelewe, Mliwaliwa, Mpatsachokolo, Msua, Mtogo, Muhasa, Mukengeka, Munzungunzungu, Mutungulu, Mwisa, Ndiapimbwa, Ntantanyerere, Ntewelewe, Nuhumba, Tawetawe, Winter senna
Synonyms
- Cassia goratensis Fresen.
- Cassia singueana Del.
- Cassia singueana Diels var. glabra (E.G. Baker)Brenan
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Seeds - coffee, Pods, Fruit, Vegetable
Where does Winter cassia grow?
Found in: Africa, Angola, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, SE Asia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 100 Cassia species. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Status: The pods are especially eaten by children. The leaves are often a famine food.
Growing Winter cassia, Sticky pod
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds germinate easily.
Edible Uses: The young leaves are eaten cooked. The pods are eaten raw or made into a porridge after soaking, then boiling. The seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Production: It is quick growing. In Tanzania fruit are collected during the dry season usually from July to November.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pods | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Leaves | - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
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Assefa, A. & Abebe, T., 2010, Wild Edible Trees and Shrubs in the Semi-arid Lowlands of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Science and Development 1 (1) 2010
Centurie de plantes d'Afrique 28. 1826 (F. Cailliaud, Voy. Meroe; 4:321. 1827) (As Cassia singueana)
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