Hewitt's Dwarf Morning Glory

Afrikaans name:

Hewitt's Dwarf Morning Glory

Photo © Steven Herbert

Hewittia malabarica

Hewitt’s Dwarf Morning Glory is a twining plant with stems of about 1 to 2 metres in length. In South Africa it is found along the KwaZulu-Natal east coast as well as some parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It is also found in other parts of Africa and Asia and has been introduced into countries such as Jamaica. It is a common plant that is found in grasslands, woodland, forest, valleys, and floodplains.

The leaves grow to a length of up to 10 cm or more. The pale-yellow flowers have a deep red centre and attract various species of small bees. They are around 5 cm in diameter. The fruit is almost round or, in some cases, squarish.

Various parts of the Hewitt’s Dwarf Morning Glory are used by people in different countries. The fibre from the stems is used to make ropes while the leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Traditionally some people have used the roots and leaves to treat ailments. In some countries it is fed to livestock.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to Wild Flowers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 2005 - Page: 302

Wikipedia

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