Sesamum radiatum Thonn. ex Hornem.

Disagreeably smelling annual, 0.40-1.20 m high or sometimes higher, usually branched; stems and branches in their upper parts obtusely quadrangular, with furrowed sides. Leaves varying from ovate-elliptic (the lower) to narrowly oblong (the upper), at the base and apex acute or rather obtuse, 3½-11 cm by 1¼-4 cm; lower more or less coarsely dentate-serrate, but never deeply divided or compound; higher entire or nearly so; petioles ¼-2½ cm, from the base of the stem upwards gradually diminishing in length. Pedicels erect, 4-8 mm, in fruit thickened and obconical. Calyx 5-7 mm, segments oblong or ovate-oblong, rather obtuse. Corolla totalling 3-4 cm, violet or violet with white. Filaments glabrous; anthers 4-5 mm, hairy on the back; staminode absent. Ovary densely pilose; style glabrous, white; stigmatic lamellae oblong or lanceolate. Capsule erect, prismatical from a rounded base, with a rounded or very obtuse apex, rather densely pilose, 2½-3 cm by 8-10 mm, finally splitting down to the very base; endocarp of valves slightly retuse at the apex, crowned by a short central point. Seeds ± 3 mm long, brown or black, dull or feebly shining; on both surfaces, especially on the flatter one, with several subhorizontal ribs emanating from a central longitudinal field; the flatter surface all around with a sharp margin; the opposite surface distinctly more convex, on the one side delimitated by the same margin, on the other in the lower part delimitated by a second sharp margin uniting with the other one beneath the apex of the seed; margins much more pronounced than in the preceding species.

Moist places in open savannah. Found in a wide range of habitats, though it is most common in savannah. It is also a weed and occurs in formerly cultivated fields.

The young leaves are finely cut, cooked and eaten with cereals or added to soups. Cooked leaves are slimy. The seeds are eaten. They are eaten toasted and whole or ground to a paste. The seeds yield an edible oil.

Plants can be grown from seeds. They can be sown directly or transplanted. Seeds germinate in 6-10 days. Seedlings are transplanted when 15 cm high. Second year plants can be pruned to encourage new growth.