Have You Considered Eating Your Weeds?

Willem Sternberg Jansen Van Rensburg,Abe Shegro Gerrano,Michele Cloete,Patrick Olusanmi Adebola

doi:10.4236/ajps.2014.58123

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.

Highlights

In most parts of the developed world Amaranthus (Pigweed), Cleome (Spider plant), Chenopodium (Lambs quarters), Bidens (Black Jack) and Corchorus (Jute) species are regarded as weeds [1]
The oldest inhabitants of South Africa, the San people and the first hunter-gatherers have harvested leaves from wild plants to supplement the meat from hunted animals
Several of the most popular morogo species, such as pigweed and spider flower, are pioneer plants which emerge naturally when soils are disturbed as a result of cultivation

Summary

Introduction

In most parts of the developed world Amaranthus (Pigweed), Cleome (Spider plant), Chenopodium (Lambs quarters), Bidens (Black Jack) and Corchorus (Jute) species are regarded as weeds [1]. In Africa and other developing countries, these plants form part of the daily diets of many rural households [2]. The oldest inhabitants of South Africa, the San people and the first hunter-gatherers have harvested leaves from wild plants to supplement the meat from hunted animals. The women gathered the wild plants to supplement their diet of the meat hunted by the men. Over 100 different species of plants are cooked as a potherb/relish with corn meal (Zea. How to cite this paper: van Rensburg, W.S.J., et al (2014) Have You Considered Eating Your Weeds? 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 (from here on collectively referred to as morogo) Many of these species are still wild harvested from the veldt and fallow lands and play a very important role in rural and urban household food security [2]

Edible Weeds

The Potential of African Morogo to Improve Human Nutrition

Findings

Conclusion