African mahogany tree, African sandalwood, Jumping bean
Spirostachys africana

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It can grow 10-20 m high. The bark is grey and rough and cracks into squares. The leaves are small and narrowly oval. They have rounded teeth along the edge. The leaves turn red before falling. The leaf stalks have 2 small glands towards the end near the leaf. The flowers are in long groups and appear before the leaves. Male and female flowers are separate on the same tree. The fruit is a small capsule with 3 lobes. They split open into 3 segments suddenly and noisily. The seeds are round with a papery covering.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It can grow in poor and salty soils. It grows between 60-1,370 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The whole plant is poisonous. The resin is recorded as being eaten. It causes diarrhoea and is better not eaten.

Parts have been used as a famine food.

Edible parts

Resin, caution

How it is grown

It grows slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Chilangamacho, Morekhuri, Morukuru, Mushongo, N'kuni, Ohongo, Omuhongo, Omupapa, Shilati, Tamboti

Synonyms

Excoecaria africana (Sond.) Mull. Arg.; Excoecaria synandra Pax; Sapium africanum (Sond.) Kuntze; Spirostachys synandra (Pax) Pax; Stillingera africana (Sond.) Baill.;