DESCRIPTIONOmundjulu is a low and creeping annual herb. It is a succulent, with very thick leaves and a thick reddish stem. The growth does not seem so vigorous as most of the other Ombidi species. The tiny flowers are red.The leaf shape varies with soil fertility and humidity. When growing under good conditions the leaves are broader and flatter, while they curl up and look more narrow under stress. Seedlings are found in large clusters around the mother plants and they are reddish. USEOmundjulu is not so common as Ombidi and Ekwakwa but it is always included in the spinach mixture if available. It is very popular due to the juicy leaves and stem that gives a better structure in the Ombidi and Omavanda.POTENTIAL FOR CULTIVATIONThe potential for cultivation is uncertain. The few specimens that were found at for example Ogongo Agricultural College did not grow well. At other sites Omundjulu thrived and produced an abundance of leaves and stems.SIMILAR SPECIESEngamundjulu (Portulaca oleracea) has yellow flowers and the upper leaves are often shaped like a spatula. The two species are usually quite easy to identify, but with certain combinations of soil and water stress they may look very much alike.Engamundjulu is not eaten in northern Namibia
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