Phytolaccaceae FAMILY

Hilleria latifolia

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

There is controversial information concerning the toxicity of the plant. In some areas it is considered to be a violent poison, whilst in others the leaves are eaten as a vegetable or are added to soups[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Cattle and sheep refuse to browse the plant in some areas, whilst in others the leaves are browsed by sheep and goats, but the flowers and fruits are considered fatally poisonous[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].

Botanical Description

Hilleria latifolia is a perennial plant with more or less woody stems that can persist. It can grow up to 2 metres tall[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 475 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 55 Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 1968 ISBN Description Contains, amongst other things, a taxonomic treatment of the Phytolaccaceae and part of the flora of Panama. Can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia. Naturalized in tropical Africa and Sri Lanka.

HabitatRainforest, riverine and groundwater forest; also along forest margins and roads; and as a weed in plantations; at elevations from 500 - 1,600 metres in Africa[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Often found in very shady places[ 544 Title Cataloge of African Plants Collected by Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch in 1853 - 1861 Publication Author Hiern. W.P. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Longmans & Co.; London. Year 1898 ISBN Description In 6 volumes, it gives botanical descriptions and some uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].