Gisekia pharnaceoides (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Vegetable
Medicinal
Forage / feed
Food security

Gisekia pharnaceoides L.

Protologue: Mant. pl. 2: 562 (1771).

Family: Aizoaceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 36, 72, 108

Synonyms

• Gisekia linearifolia Schumach. & Thonn. (1827),
• Gisekia congesta Moq. (1849),
• Gisekia rubella Hochst. ex Moq. (1849).

Vernacular names

• Oldmaid, gisekia (En).

Origin and geographic distribution

Most probably Gisekia pharnaceoides originated in tropical Africa and adjacent tropical Arabia. Later it spread to southern Africa and Asia, and was introduced into the New World. In tropical Africa it is widespread in drier areas.

Uses

Gisekia pharnaceoides is occasionally eaten as a vegetable, e.g. in Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. It is eaten as an emergency food in West Africa and India. In DR Congo and northern Chad it is eaten as a condiment.

Young plants are eaten by domestic stock, although they may cause diarrhoea; older plants are not recommended as fodder because the fruits are said to be poisonous. There are many medicinal uses. In East Africa the whole plant is eaten as a general strength restorative, e.g. after miscarriage. In northern Africa Gisekia pharnaceoides is considered a purgative, in Kenya, Tanzania, southern Africa and Madagascar it is taken to cure diarrhoea. In India, Indonesia, South Africa and Madagascar it is used as a taenicide, but the plant should be consumed with great caution. In West Africa leaves are rubbed on swellings and in Tanzania the stem, pounded in butter, is placed on aching muscles. In India plant sap is used against warts. In Tanzania cooked green leaves are eaten to treat asthma, in Kenya the roots are made into a chest medicine. The seeds probably possess anthelmintic properties.

Properties

In the vegetative parts of Gisekia pharnaceoides several phenolic acids have been identified: p-OH-benzoic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid. Ferulic and sinapic acids were absent, although these are usually present in Aizoaceae. In the seed the tannin-like principles α- and β-gisekia have been found. Tannins are present in the whole plant.

Botany

• Slightly succulent, glabrous herb, green, often pinkish tinged; stem trailing, decumbent or prostrate, up to 80 cm long, sometimes longer.
• Leaves usually opposite, simple, subsessile; blade variable, from linear to linear-oblanceolate, oblanceolate-spatulate or elliptical, 0.5–6 cm × 0.1–2 cm, base attenuate, apex rounded to subacute, often obscurely apiculate, entire, surface closely streaked with numerous linear, short, whitish raphides.
• Inflorescence an umbelliform cyme, 3–40-flowered; peduncle up to 5.5 cm long.
• Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, greenish-white, often tinged pinkish, mauve or yellowish; pedicel fairly stout, curved, 2–8 mm long; tepals free, in fruit 1.5–3 mm long; stamens with filaments broadened at base; carpels 5, free.
• Fruit consisting of 5 achenes.
• Seeds black, smooth, minutely pitted.

The status, affinities and systematic position of Gisekia is still a matter of dispute. It has been variously assigned to different families: Aizoaceae, Molluginaceae and Phytolaccaceae. It has been suggested that Gisekia constitutes a separate family, Gisekiaceae, and can be considered as a possible connecting link between betalain-containing Aizoaceae and Phytolaccaceae and anthocyanin-containing Molluginaceae.

The variability of Gisekia pharnaceoides is considerable and has resulted in numerous names of species and varieties. Best known is var. pseudopaniculata C.Jeffrey (plants erect or ascending, flowers in diffuse terminal cymes, pedicel threadlike, erect, 1–1.5 cm long in fruit), which is now considered a separate species: Gisekia diffusa M.Gilbert. Specimens with prominently crested or winged fruits are classified in var. alata M.Gilbert.

Ecology

Gisekia pharnaceoides is a weed found along roadsides, in grassland, bushland and woodland, mostly on sandy soils, from sea-level up to 1700 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Gisekia pharnaceoides is common and widespread in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world and is not in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

The phytochemistry of Gisekia pharnaceoides should be better investigated in order to determine the nutritional and medicinal values. Unless such studies indicate otherwise, its use as a vegetable should not be recommended because it contains poisonous compounds.

Major references

• Adamson, R.S., 1961. The South African species of Aizoaceae. 10. Gisekia L. Journal of South African Botany 27: 131–137.

• Gilbert, M.G., 1993. A review of Gisekia (Gisekiaceae). Kew Bulletin 48: 343–356.

• Godfrey, R.K., 1961. Gisekia pharnacioides, a new weed. Rhodora 63: 226–228.

• Jeffrey, C., 1961. Aizoaceae (including Molluginaceae and Tetragoniaceae). In: Hubbard, O.B.E. & Milne-Redhead, E. (Editors). Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. 37 pp.

• Narayana, P.S. & Narayana, L.L., 1988. Systematic position of Gisekia L. A numerical assessment. Feddes Repertorium 99: 189–193.

Other references

• Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.

• Burkill, H.M., 2000. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 5, Families S–Z, Addenda. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 686 pp.

• Gonçalves, M.L., 1978. Aizoaceae. In: Launert, E. (Editor). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 4. Flora Zambesiaca Managing Committee, London, United Kingdom. pp. 508–521.

• Keay, R.W.J., 1954. Molluginaceae. In: Keay, R.W.J. (Editor). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Volume 1, part 1. 2nd Edition. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. pp. 133–135.

Author(s)

• P.C.M. Jansen, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Jansen, P.C.M., 2004. Gisekia pharnaceoides L. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands.

Accessed 17 December 2024.