Platostoma africanum P.Beauv.

Branched, slender herb, 30 cm or more high. Stem and branches sparingly puberulent. Leaves thin membranaceous, rhomboid to ovate, sparingly puberulent on both surfaces, 1.2-3.5 by 0.5-1.5 cm, acute, base cuneate or attenuate, entire, margin elsewhere serrate; petiole 0.5-1 cm. Verticillasters several to many-flowered, in terminal, often simple racemose inflorescence, 2 or more cm long. Bracts narrowly elliptic, 4-5 mm, glandular and hirsute. Flowers on 2-3 mm long pedicels. Calyx 2-2.5 mm long, in fruit 3-4 mm, sparingly puberulent; upper lip rounded, strongly deflexed backwards in fruit; lower lip ovate, flat or slightly concave. Corolla 3-4 mm long, pale lilac (fide BAKER). Nutlets ovoid, minute, brown to black, finely reticulate.

A tropical plant. It grows in wet forests. It grows in savannah woodland and on the edges of small lakes. It grows in part shade. In Tanzania it grows between 100-2,500 m above sea level.

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are cooked along or along with other vegetables.

Plants can be grown from seed.