African peach, Guinea peach
Sarcocephalus latifolius

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub that loses its leaves. It has many stems and grows 2-9 m tall. It can grow a large tree in forest. The trunk is crooked and can be 30 cm across. It can have several stems. The branches are thick and drooping. The bark is dark grey and very fibrous. It is deeply cracked. The leaves are shiny green but darker on top and paler underneath. They are a wide oval shape and 10-21 cm long. The tip is pointed and the base is rounded. The leaves are thick with deep veins. The leaf stalk is red-purple. It is about 2 cm long. The flowers are white-yellow and have a strong smell. They occur in single rounded heads about 4-5 cm across. The flowers are in a rounded "pin cushion" like head. The individual flowers have slender tubes. The flower stalk is 1-2 cm long. The fruit is a compound fruit. It is red or pinkish with a rough appearance and the flesh is deep red and watery. The fruit is pitted like a golf ball. It is a round ball about 5-8 cm across. The surface of the fruit is rough with 5 sided pits. They contain many small seeds. The seeds are very small, about 1 mm across. They lie in the flesh around the solid core. The flesh is edible.

Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 6.4% (dry). Fat = 3.2% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 3.1% (dry). Ash = 5.1% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 4.9% (dry). Sucrose = 5.6% (dry). D-glucose = 5.6% (dry). F-fructose = 2.7% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 7.5g. Threonine = 3.1g. Serine = 3.6g. Glutamic acid = 15.7g. Proline = 5.8g. Glycine = 4.4g. Alanine = 4.0g. Valine = 4.8g. Cysteine = 1.3g. Methionine = 1.3g. Isoleucine = 3.4g. Leucine = 6.1g. Tyrosine = 2.0g. Phenylalanine = 3.6g. Lysine = 1.9g. Histidine = 1.7g. Arginine = 6.4g. Minerals - Sulphur = 0.11% (dry). Potassium = 0.16% (dry). Magnesium = 0.22% (dry). Calcium = 0.54% (dry). Na = 0.04% (dry). K = 1.54% (dry). Zinc = 30mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 237mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 18mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 8mg/kg-1 (dry).

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. There is a savannah form and a forest form across West Africa. It also grows on ant hills. It grows between 900-1,100 m above sea level. In Ethiopia it grows between 550-1,500 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Pacific, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, West Africa (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw and also used in soups. The fruit can be dried for later use. It is the pulp of the fruit that is eaten. A drink is prepared from the fruit. The flower heads are eaten as a vegetable. CAUTION: It can induce abortions. It is also used for arrow poison.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is cultivated. It is a commonly used food in West Africa. Fruit tend to be available in the drier more hungry season.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, flower heads, leaves as condiment, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed. The seeds are very small. To separate the very small seeds from the fruit, mash the fruit then float it in a bucket of water. The seed will separate out and sink to the bottom. They should then be collected and slowly dried. Seed should be planted within 2 months. Plants can be cut back and will re-grow. They can be grown from cuttings or layering.

Its other names

Local names

A-podo, Abacore, Angatu, Bacore, Bakurehi, Bati-foro, Baro, Batio, Benau-utchata, Bopanicam, Buah persik hitam, Bugulba, Caboupa, Canhame, Chipoka, Coile, Conde, Country fig, Cunhe, Dhiot, Diuo, Dudanke, Ebele, Ebolo, Edoil, Ekomokoi, Eutudolei, Fafadjambo, Fumulundjucu, Ganyerou, Goat, Gongan, Gounge, Guinea peach, Gwiinga, Ibele, Ikyura-ukase, Karmadoda, Karmadodah, Katama, Kienga, Kilololkia pumba, Kwomo, Logotomic, Lolo, Lolo kia mabundu, M'nafo-ucon, Madronho, Miaar, Monyo, Moyo, Mukwamkwam, Munyu, Mutma, Nlolo, N'tole, Nafum-cone, Nauclea, Naude-puthu, Naudo-putcho, Negro-peach, Nzelenge, Oculub, Oculup, Ofede, Ogbossi, Opanica, Opepe, Pincushion, Ptehen'tugudu, Pulasan hutan, Rata-bakmi, Sierra Leone peach, Sukisia, Tambacumba-de-santcho, Tehe-intogude, Tetudu, Tetugde, Tuwon biri, Wuacruli

Synonyms

Sarcocephalus esculentus Afzel ex Sabine; Sarcocephalus russeggeri Kotschy ex Schweinf.; Nauclea esculenta (Sabine) Merr.; Nauclea latifolia Smith; and others