Tylosema esculentum SEEDS

Description

Tylosema esculentum seeds grow into the marama bean one of the most nutritionally extraordinary plants of the southern African desert, a scrambling tuberous geophyte native to the Kalahari Desert and surrounding desert and dry shrubland biome of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Known also as the gemsbok bean, this celebrated member of Fabaceae develops a massive, woody underground tuberous caudex one of the largest in any legume, potentially reaching extraordinary size in old plants from which annual scrambling stems emerge with characteristic bilobed leaves and golden-yellow flowers. The seeds are exceptionally nutritious: approximately 2939% protein and 2528% oil, making marama one of Africa’s most significant underutilised food crops. Often called ‘the green gold of Africa’.

Full sun, very sharp drainage and a dry rest when dormant replicate the Kalahari Desert conditions of its southern African habitat.

• Massive woody tuberous caudex potentially one of the largest leguminous underground tubers
• Seeds: 2939% protein, 2528% oil extraordinarily nutritious; ‘green gold of Africa’
• Kalahari Desert: Botswana, Namibia, S. Africa desert and dry shrubland biome
• Golden-yellow flowers; bilobed leaves; scrambling annual stems; Family Fabaceae
• Full sun; very sharp drainage; dry dormancy rest

Growing Tylosema esculentum from seed is a connection to one of Africa’s most remarkable plants the marama bean, whose massive underground caudex and extraordinarily nutritious seeds have sustained Kalahari communities for millennia and are now recognised as one of the most promising underutilised crops for food security in arid regions worldwide.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.