Guinea gumvine, Landolphia rubber
Landolphia heudelotii

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Landolphia heudelotii is a CLIMBER growing to 15 m (49ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Mainly a savannah and understory shrub, it is often found in open forests and on laterite and sandy soils near rivers.

Western tropical Africa - Senegal to N. Ghana.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, Mali, Niger, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

The fruit pulp is edible and refreshing. It is slightly acidulous and mucilaginous and is said to promote good digestion. The pulp surrounding the seeds is filled with a juice that is regarded as very healthful and is sometimes prescribed as an aid to digestion. Rich in organic acids, this pulp is used as a snack, as a breakfast food, and as a source of refreshing drinks. The juice is commonly used to season rice with its sprightly sourness. It is fermented to make an alcoholic drink. The yellow fruit is pear-shaped or globose and often suddenly contracted into a stout stipe, 3 - 8cm in diameter.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 2

A decoction of the stems, or of the roots, is given for treating intestinal pains. It is not purgative. Vapour from a boiling concoction of leafy twigs is inhaled orally for tooth troubles. The plant (part not stated) is used in draughts and added to squat-baths in treating haemorrhoids. A decoction of the roots, and of the fruit pulp, with some lime-juice is added to baths as a remedy for fatigue. The seeds have unspecified medicinal use in Sierra Leone.

Antihaemorrhoidal: Treats haemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading.

Odontalgic: Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 3

The plant contains an abundance of white latex and the rubber obtained from it is of good quality. The sap is no longer used commercially, but has local applications - to fix bicycle tubes, for example.

Latex: A source of rubber.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Coppice: Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Coppice: A traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

The plant grows under trees and is promising for agroforestry. The plant is said to withstand bush-fires and grazing.

Propagating it: Seed - Cuttings

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Angambane, Beta, Bufene, Canho, Debol-poledje, Entonke, Erocodo, Fole-di-lala, Fole-di-lete, Fole-macacou, Fole-pequeno, Fole, Foleos-sum-o, Folezinho, Foli, Mambina, N'batano, Pore-lare, Pore, Psobe, Umbatano

Synonyms

Landolphia michelinii Benth. Landolphia tomentosa (Lepr. & Perr. ex Baucher) Dewèvre Landolphia traunii (Sadeb.) Sadeb. ex K.Schum. Vahea heudelotii (A.DC.) F.Muell. Vahea senegambensis traunii (Sadeb.) Sadeb. Vahea tomentosa Lepr. & Perr. ex Baucher Vahea traunii Sadeb.