Sand apricot-vine, Coast rubber vine, Wildpeach
Landolphia kirkii
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
Landolphia kirkii is an evergreen 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), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
A strong climber in forest, at forest edges and in Brachystegia bushland, miombo woodlands on plateaux and wet valleys.
Eastern Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, S. Africa.
Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa*, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw. A juicy pulp, it is sweet with a slightly acid flavour. They are popular with those in the know, but their tartness can put off the uninitiated. The rounded to oval, dull green but spotted, fruit is a many-seeded berry with a hard skin up to 15cm in diameter.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 2
A good quality latex, suitable for making into rubber, is obtained from the stems. It is only used locally. The latex can be coagulated with sea water or with lime juice. The flexible stems can be used as rope.
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.
How it is grown
A plant of subtropical to tropical areas, where it is usually found growing in moister areas.
Propagating it: Seed
Best place to grow:
Habit: Climber
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Its other names
Local names
Anggur karet, Ibungu, Kirk's landolphia, Mabungo, Matwatwa, Maungo, Melktog, Mlimbo, Mpila, Mpira, Mubungu, Muhonga-ulume, Mukanga, Muungu, Muvhungo, Muwungu, Runyangarwapene, Sand apricot, Ugooto, Umkuzi, Zanzibar rubber
Synonyms
Landolphia delagoensis (Dewèvre) Pierre Landolphia dondeensis Busse Landolphia polyantha K.Schum. Vahea kirkii (Dyer ex Hook.f.) Sadeb.