This species has often been misidentified as Kedrostis leloja (J.F.Gmel.) C.Jeffrey, a closely related species known from Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. It is very possible that the uses recorded below refer to the latter or to both species[
Kedrostis abdallai is a herbaceous, perennial climbing plant producing annual stems up to 1 metre long from a swollen tuberous rootstock. The bristly or hairy stems scramble over the ground and clamber into nearby plants, attaching themselves by means of tendrils[
The edible fruits and leaves are sometimes gathered from the wild for local consumption.
East tropical Africa - Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania.
Acacia-Commiphora bushland, wooded grassland; at elevations from 10 - 550 metres[
Fruit - raw[
]. A bitter flavour[
]. Eaten mainly by children[
]. The shiny, orange fruits are about 55 - 80mm long and 15mm wide, containing smooth, dark brown, round seeds surrounded by orange flesh in little packets of red watery tissue[
Leaves - -cooked and eaten as a vegetable[
]. The leaves are chopped and cooked; coconut milk or pounded groundnuts are added, and the whole is eaten along with a staple such as rice[
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