Details Top

Internal ID UUID643fd6df8b572805002305
Scientific name Tylosema esculentum
Authority (Burch.) A.Schreib.
First published in Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München3: 611 (1960)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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General Uses Top

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Common products:
Seed oil (marama oil); roasted seeds and seed flour; raw tuber as a starch source.

Industrial and craft applications:
No standardized or widely documented industrial uses beyond food are recorded.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Seeds are harvested and processed for oil extraction and flour production. Seed oil is used for cooking and frying. Seed flour functions as a food ingredient, contributing protein and dietary fiber. Roasted whole seeds are consumed as a snack. The tuber is eaten, typically boiled or roasted.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use as a dye or tanning agent.

Wood and fiber:
No documented timber or fiber use.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented use in fragrance or cosmetics.

Properties relevant to use:
Seed oil typically contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic and linoleic acids, supporting oxidative stability and suitable cooking performance. Seed flour is protein-rich and contains complex carbohydrates that can contribute structure and functionality in doughs and batters. Tubers provide starchy carbohydrates.

Standards and regulation:
No specific established standards or regulatory frameworks are documented for marama products.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Marama is a perennial adapted to arid/semi-arid environments of southern Africa and can be cultivated under low-input conditions; seeds and tubers are harvested directly from plants for local use.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Bauhinia esculenya Burch. Trav. S. Africa2: 589 (1824)
Bauhinia bainesii Schinz Mém. Herb. Boissier1: 121 (1900)
Phanera burkeana Benth. F.A.W.Miquel, Pl. Jungh.: 264 (1852)
Bauhinia burkeana Benth. ex Harv. & Sond. W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap.2: 275 (1862)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Danish maramabønne
German kletterbauhinie
German maramabohne
French marama
Chinese 食用异柱豆

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Africa
    • South Tropical Africa
      • Angola
      • Zimbabwe
    • Southern Africa
      • Botswana
      • Cape Provinces
      • Namibia
      • Northern Provinces

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000171180
Tropicos 13052164
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:524263-1
The Plant List ild-1744
Open Tree Of Life 121922
NCBI Taxonomy 189976
IPNI 524263-1
iNaturalist 571051
GBIF 5353681
Freebase /m/0gyvvf
EOL 638925
USDA GRIN 411903
Wikipedia Tylosema_esculentum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
Accession Assembly
Name Level Submitter Released Coverage Size
GCA_052819105.1 Tylosema_esculentum_1.0 Scaffold Case Western Reserve University 2025-09-24 70 527.64 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Forgotten Gems: Exploring the Untapped Benefits of Underutilized Legumes in Agriculture, Nutrition, and Environmental Sustainability Odeku OA, Ogunniyi QA, Ogbole OO, Fettke J Plants (Basel) 26-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11085438
doi:10.3390/plants13091208
PMID:38732424
The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Bauhinia glauca subsp. hupehana (Craib) T. C. Chen 1988 Ke QL, Li RY, Cai SS, Tang MQ, Cui LC, Lai CD, Li YH Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 11-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10930098
doi:10.1080/23802359.2024.2324928
PMID:38476838
The complete mitochondrial genome of Bauhinia variegata (Leguminosae) Sun C, Chen Y, Zheng D, Zhong Y, Luo S, Meng S, Qian L, Wei D, Liu Y, Dai S, Zhou R Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 18-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10802806
doi:10.1080/23802359.2024.2305712
PMID:38259357
Protein Hydrolysate from Underutilized Legumes: Unleashing the Potential for Future Functional Foods Azman AT, Mohd Isa NS, Mohd Zin Z, Abdullah MA, Aidat O, Zainol MK Prev Nutr Food Sci 30-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10567599
doi:10.3746/pnf.2023.28.3.209
PMID:37842256
Comparative Analysis of Tylosema esculentum Mitochondrial DNA Revealed Two Distinct Genome Structures Li J, Cullis C Biology (Basel) 16-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10525999
doi:10.3390/biology12091244
PMID:37759643
Complete chloroplast genome of Lens lamottei reveals intraspecies variation among with Lens culinaris Kurt S, Kaymaz Y, Ateş D, Tanyolaç MB Sci Rep 11-Sep-2023
PMCID:PMC10495401
doi:10.1038/s41598-023-41287-y
PMID:37696838
The Mitochondrial Genome of the Holoparasitic Plant Thonningia sanguinea Provides Insights into the Evolution of the Multichromosomal Structure Zhou S, Wei N, Jost M, Wanke S, Rees M, Liu Y, Zhou R Genome Biol Evol 21-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10476698
doi:10.1093/gbe/evad155
PMID:37603455
Comparative analysis of the complete mitogenome of Geoffroea decorticans: a native tree surviving in the Atacama Desert Contreras-Díaz R, Carevic FS, van den Brink L Front Genet 10-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10448962
doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1226052
PMID:37636265
Plant growth–promoting traits of culturable seed microbiome of citrus species from Purvanchal Himalaya Sinha S, Thakuria D, Chaliha C, Uzir P, Hazarika S, Dutta P, Singh AK, Laloo B Front Plant Sci 10-Jul-2023
PMCID:PMC10365123
doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1104927
PMID:37492766
Characterization and comparative analysis of the complete plastid genomes of four Astragalus species Moghaddam M, Wojciechowski MF, Kazempour-Osaloo S PLoS One 23-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10204964
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0286083
PMID:37220139
Underutilized legumes: nutrient status and advanced breeding approaches for qualitative and quantitative enhancement Samal I, Bhoi TK, Raj MN, Majhi PK, Murmu S, Pradhan AK, Kumar D, Paschapur AU, Joshi DC, Guru PN Front Nutr 18-May-2023
PMCID:PMC10232757
doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1110750
PMID:37275642
Nutritional and pharmacological potentials of orphan legumes: Subfamily faboideae Ogbole OO, Akin-Ajani OD, Ajala TO, Ogunniyi QA, Fettke J, Odeku OA Heliyon 15-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10161725
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15493
PMID:37151618
Nutritional, functional, and bioactive properties of african underutilized legumes Popoola JO, Ojuederie OB, Aworunse OS, Adelekan A, Oyelakin AS, Oyesola OL, Akinduti PA, Dahunsi SO, Adegboyega TT, Oranusi SU, Ayilara MS, Omonhinmin CA Front Plant Sci 14-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10141332
doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1105364
PMID:37123863
Comparative analysis of 84 chloroplast genomes of Tylosema esculentum reveals two distinct cytotypes Li J, Cullis C Front Plant Sci 31-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC9927231
doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1025408
PMID:36798803
Ammi-visnaga extract; a novel phyto-antiviral agent against bovine rotavirus Harb N, Sarhan AG, El Dougdoug KA, Gomaa HH Virusdisease 04-Jan-2023
PMCID:PMC10050252
doi:10.1007/s13337-022-00803-w
PMID:37009254

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
Protocatechuic Acid 72 Click to see 154.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid 370 Click to see 170.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids
9-Octadecenoic Acid 965 Click to see 282.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Oleic Acid 445639 Click to see 282.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids
Docosanoic Acid 8215 Click to see 340.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
(-)-beta-Sitosterol 222284 Click to see 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol 86821 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C 414.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds
(2Z)-2-[(4S,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxycyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene]acetonitrile 163190771 Click to see 329.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Ethyl glucoside, alpha- 9815668 Click to see 208.21 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Glucopyranoside, ethyl 428040 Click to see 208.21 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Hex-2-ulofuranosyl hexopyranoside 1115 Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O 342.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Sucrose 5988 Click to see 342.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans
(3aR,6S,7R,7aR)-6,7-dihydroxy-3a,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-3H-1-benzofuran-2-one 131014862 Click to see 170.16 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
(6S,7R,7aR)-6,7-dihydroxy-7,7a-dihydro-6H-1-benzofuran-2-one 124356406 Click to see 168.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
6,7-dihydroxy-7,7a-dihydro-6H-1-benzofuran-2-one 324687 Click to see 168.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Kaempferol 5280863 Click to see 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one 5462193 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006
Astragalin 5282102 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BMC.2011.07.006

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