African chewing-gum tree
Thespesia trilobata
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows 3-13 m tall. The bark is rough and greyish-black. The leaves are alternate and 20 cm long by 20 cm wide. The flowers occur singly and are large. They are yellow with a purple-brown centre. The fruit is a round woody capsule. It has silky hairs. The seeds are 1 cm long and brownish with a woolly floss.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in grassland and open woodlands. It grows up to 1,900 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania
How it is used for food
Edible parts
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or by suckers.
Its other names
Local names
Pohon hibiscus hutan