Table 2 List (names) of wild edible plants used in indigenous foods, dishes, and beverages of Ramotswa village along with parts and forms used, value, food safety, taboos, market potential, seasonal availability, and perishable nature of the edible plants

1

Dikgokgo

Unidentified

Fruits

IF – can be consumed raw or cooked

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

2

Khusubele/wild tomato

Wild goose berry

Withania spomnifera

Fruits

IF – an ingredient in relish

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

3

Legabala

Wild cucumber

Coccinia sessilifolia

Fruits

IF – can be cooked/boiled

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

4

Leroplane

Unidentified

Fruits and Leaves

IF & ID – green leafy vegetable

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

5

Mabowa

Wild mushrooms

Agaricus sp

Whole fruiting body

IF – can be consumed raw or cooked

NP – carbohydrate, protein and fiber

-

N/A

H

After rains (Pe)

6

Mogabaditswane

Trochomeria

Trochomeria debilis

Fruits

IF - fruits consumed directly

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

7

Mogakangwaga

Trochomeria

Trochomeria debilis (Sond.) Hook.f.

Fruits, tubers & (Mogabaditshwane)

IB(FR) – tuber

IF – fruits

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

8

Mogodiri

Common taaibos/ fire-thorned rhus

Rhus pyroides Burch

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

9

Mogorogorwana/ Moruta

Corky-bark monkey orange

Strychnos cocculoides Baker

Fruits

IF – Juicy pulpy fruit

NP- vitamins and minerals

-

N/A

VH

After rains (Pe)

10

Mogwana

False brandy bush

Grewia bicolor Juss.

Fruits

IF & IB(FR) – used to boost flavor in mogakangwaga alcoholic beverage (Khadi)

NP – Vitamins and minerals

-

N/A

H

After rains (Pe)

11

Mokate

Wild Melon

Citrullus lanatus

Fruits

IF – cooked before consumption.

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

12

Mokgalo

Buffalo Thorn

Ziziphus mucronata Willd.

Fruits pulp, leaf, root, bark & seed

IF – Seeds ground and eaten as powder (Sekome)

MD – pastes of leaves and used to heal wounds, boils or sores. Roots are boiled and the juice is used to kill pain

-

N/A

HP

After rains (Du)

13

Mokgomphatha

Rough leaved raisin bush

Grewia retinervis Burret

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

14

Mmilo

Wild medla

Vanguera infausta Burch.

Fruits pulp

IF

NP – carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals

-

N/A

P

October – January (Pe)

15

Mmilofatshe

Unidentified

Fruits

IF

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

16

Mmupudu/Mompudu

Common red milkwood

Mimops zeyheri Sonder.

Fruits pulp

IF - can be compacted and dried to preserve

-

-

N/A

H

October – January (Pe)

17

Moe

Berchemia zeyheri

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

October – January (Pe)

18

Mopenoeng/Molalakgaka

Jacket plum

Pappea capensis Ecklon & Zeyher

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

19

Moojane

Unidentified

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

20

Moretlwa

Wild berry

Grewia flava DC.

Fruits pulp

IF- berries are readily consumed IB (FR) – can be fermented to make a drink.

NP – carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals

-

N/A

H

October – January (Pe)

21

Moretologa wa kgomo/Morotologakgomo

Large sourplum

Ximenia caffra Sonder

Fruits pulp

IF

-

-

N/A

P

October – January (Pe)

Moretologa wa pudi/Morotologapudi

Small sourplum

Ximenia Americana L.

22

Morobe

Ehretia rigida (thumb.) Druce

Fruits

IF

-

Causes constipation if consumed in large amounts

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

23

Morula

Marula

Scleroccaria birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst.

Fruits pulp, nuts

IF IB (FR)

NP – carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, fats and antioxidants

-

N/A

H

October – January (Pe)

24

Motlhatswa

Milk plum

Englerophytum magalismontanum

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

October – January (Pe)

25

Phare

Unidentified

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

26

Ntoroko

Prickly pear

Opuntia sp

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

H

After rains (Pe)

27

Sekgalofatshe

Unidentified

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

28

Sereledi

Common kalanchoe

Kalanchoe rotundifolia

Fruits

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

29

Motlopi/Motopi

Shepered’s tree

Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Benedict

Fruits & roots

IF – fruits can be consumed raw IB (NF) – outer cover of roots are washed, chopped, roasted and ground to make coffee.

MD – used to boost libido

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

30

Mokgwara/Motlhatswameno

Cat’s tail

Hembstaedtia odorata

Roots

IF – roots chewed and spat like sweet reed, can also be boiled to drink.

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

31

Ntige

Indigofera bainesii Baker

Roots

IF- consumed like sweet reed

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

32

Tlodi

Unidentified

Roots

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

33

Tshuge

Chlorophytum sphacelatum subsp. Sphacelatum (Baker) Kativu

Roots

IF – roots peeled and roasted

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

34

Bokwidi

Wild onion

Ornithogalum tenuifolium

Tubers

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

35

Diphoni

Unidentified

Tubers

IF – boiled or roasted

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

36

Leruswa

Monteiro vine

Stomatostemma monteiroae

Tubers

IB (NF) – water is extracted from the tuber.

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

37

Radikgane

Morning glory

Ipomea bolasiana

Tubers

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

38

Serowa

Unidentified

Tubers

IF

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

39

Thoma

Unidentified

Tubers

IF – tuber is consumed raw and has a pungent aroma

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

40

Mosukujane

Lemon bush

Lippia scaberrima

Leaves

IB(NF) – leaves can be boiled and taken as tea or added to instant tea

MD – the tea can relief chest pains and treat colds

-

N/A

VH

After rains (Sp)

41

Kgomodimetsing

Resurrection plant

Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw

Leaves

IB (NF) – tea plant

NP – rich in antioxidants and is herbal

-

N/A

H

After rains (Pe)

42

Lengana

Artemisia afra

Leaves and roots

IB(NF) – tea plant

MD – treats asthma and colds

-

N/A

VH

After rains (Pe)

43

Leshwe/Leswe?

Ceropegia rendalii?

Leaves

IF & ID - green leafy vegetable

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

44

Moritelatshwene

Unidentified

Leaves

IB(NF) – tea plant

MD

-

N/A

P

After rains (Sp)

45

Mothukhwi

Unidentified

Leaves

IF & ID – green leafy vegetable, bitter in taste

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

46

Rammola

Unidentified

Leaves

IB(NF) – leaves make tea

MD – similar to mosukujane

-

N/A

P

After rains (Sp)

47

Rothwe

Spider whisp

Cleome gynadra

Leaves

IF & ID – green leafy vegetable, bitter in taste.

NP – vitamins, antioxidants, iron

-

N/A

H

After rains (Pe)

48

Seswagadi

Jatropha zeyheri Sond.

Leaves

IB(NF) – tea plant

NP – herbal

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

49

Thebelefswane

Unidentified

Leaves

IF & ID – green leafy vegetable, bitter in taste

-

-

N/A

P

After rains (Pe)

50

Thepe

Amaranthus sp

Leaves, shoots, seed

IF – leaf or shoots are cooked and consumed

N/A

After rains