Assegai tree
Curtisia dentata

Family: Curtisiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 8-13 m high. The bark is dark grey and cracks in square patches. Young branches have dense rusty hairs. The leaves are opposite and broadly oval. They are 10 cm long. They are shiny green above and light green with woolly hairs underneath. They have teeth along the edge. They end in a sharp point at the tip. The flowers are in branched heads at the tips of the plant. The fruit are fleshy and 10 mm long by 3-5 mm wide. They turn red when ripe. They have a calyx crown on the top.

There is only one Curtisia species. It has also been put in the plant family Cornaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In South Africa it grows up to 1,800 m altitude. It often grows in mountain forests and stream gullies.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are bitter but edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Isinwati, Lincayi, Lisinwati, Umboyi

Synonyms

Curtisia faginea Aiton;