Wild sesame

Wild sesame (Sesamum capense) is one of the taller herbs that is commonly seen along roadsides and widely distributed throughout southern Africa. Apart from roadsides and other disturbed areas, it often grows in rocky habitats and on stony ground. It can grow up to a height of 1.5m with well-spaced out branches. The flowers are a beautiful pink to blue in colour and trumpet-shaped, usually with a dark centre. Its leaves are often divided into 3-7 segments and emit a rather unpleasant aroma.

Sesamum capense is used in traditional medicines and the seeds are edible. A distinguishing feature of the wild sesame is its winged seed. There are some 13 species and subspecies occurring in Namibia.