Changes

The composition of seeds of ''Tylosema fassoglense'' per 100 g edible portion is: water 7.5 g, energy 1888 kJ (451 kcal), protein 43.5 g, fat 32.6 g, carbohydrate 14.6 g, fibre 4.2 g, Ca 80 mg, P 200 mg and Fe 40 mg (Malaisse & Parent, 1985). Seeds collected in DR Congo and Burundi yielded 24–30 g oil per 100 g, with as principal fatty acids linoleic acid (36–43%), oleic acid (33–35%), palmitic acid (12–16%), stearic acid (3–5%), behenic acid (3–5%) and arachidic acid (2–4%). Per 100 g the defatted seedcake meal contains 59 g protein, with a very high level of tyrosine (7–9 g per 100 g dry weight) and relatively high proportions of lysine and proline (3–4 g and 4–5 g per 100 g dry weight, respectively). The seedcake meal contains substantial amounts of trypsin inhibitors (295 TUI/mg) and phytate (3.5 g per 100 g dry weight), but cyanogenic glycosides have not been detected. For human or animal consumption of the seedcake, removal or inactivation of the trypsin inhibitors is recommended. Recently a cyanoglucoside (lithospermoside) has been isolated from the roots. In the rainy season the tuberous root may contain 86% water.

Perennial herb or shrub, with tuberous root; stem prostrate and trailing or climbing, up to 6 m long, herbaceous or woody below, young parts rusty-tomentose or rusty-hairy, with axillary forked tendrils (2–)3–6.5(–9.5) mm long. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules 2–4 mm × 2 mm, persistent; petiole (2–)3–10(–20) cm long; blade bilobed for up to one-third (sometimes up to half) its length, (5–)7–13(–20) cm × (4–)8–15(–24) cm, base deeply cordate, lobes ovate to obovate, sometimes rounded, subglabrous to densely rusty pubescent beneath. Inflorescence a lateral raceme 5–45 cm long; peduncle (2–)4–12(–18) cm long. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, heterostylous; pedicel (1.5–)2–4.5(–6) cm long; sepals 1–1.5(–2.5) cm × 3–4 mm, with upper 2 completely united and the other 3 free; petals unequal, 4 (larger ones) obovate-circular, (1.5–)2–4(–4.5) cm × 1–3 cm and tapering into a basal claw, the upper one much smaller, yellow, sometimes fading to pink; stamens 2, free, with filaments 10–18 mm long, staminodes 8, with filaments 3–6 mm long; ovary superior, 5–6 mm long, 1-celled, pubescent, style elongate, stigma small. Fruit an obovoid to oblong-ovoid pod 5–12 cm × 3–7.5 cm, flattened, woody, 1–2-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid to globose, somewhat compressed, 1.5–3 cm × 1–2 cm, chestnut-brown to black.