TITLE:
Have You Considered Eating Your Weeds?
AUTHORS:
Willem Sternberg Jansen van Rensburg, Michele Cloete, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Patrick Olusanmi Adebola
KEYWORDS:
Imifino; Morogo; Pigweed; Spider Flower; Food Security
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.8,
March
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: In most parts of the developed world, Pigweed, Spider plant,
Lambs amongst others are regarded as weeds. But in Africa and other
developing countries, these plants form part of the daily diets of many rural households.
The oldest inhabitants of South Africa have harvested leaves from wild plants
to supplement the meat from hunted animals. Over 100 different species
of plants are cooked as a potherb/relish with corn meal. These species include
indigenous species as well as indigenized, mostly weedy, species. These species became part of
the African culture and heritage and were collectively known as morogo or imifino. The popularity of specific
species is a function of many factors, including availability, ease of
preparation, taste, consistency and appearance. Some popular genera are Amaranthus, Cleome, Solanum and Corchorus. Micronutrient malnutrition is widespread in South
Africa with vitamin A and iron as the major concern for micronutrient
deficiency. Morogo can contribute to alleviating these micronutrient
deficiencies. It was found that for the species tested, that morogo are low in
energy and that leaves of nightshade, pigweed and spider flower provided more
than 50% of the RDA for vitamin A.