Bedeno
Balanites rotundifolia

Family: Zygophyllaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is evergreen and spiny. It can grow to 6-8 m high. The trunk can be 40 cm across and usually there are many branches. The bark is grey-brown. The spines can be 3-8 cm long. They are 2-5 mm across. The leaves have short leaf stalks or none at all. The leaflets are 1-6 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are broadly oval. They are rough and can be wavy. The flowers are on the stems. There can be 8 flowers in a group. The flowers have 4 parts. The fruit are 2-3 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide. They are hard and brittle on the outside. They are orange or yellow when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry rocky areas, In Kenya it grows between 50-1,350 m altitude and in areas with 150-400 mm rainfall. It is drought resistant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen

How it is used for food

The fruit can be stored and eaten later. The fruit are peeled and then boiled and the outside flesh is eaten. They are boiled for 3-4 hours and eaten with milk. The very ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It is best to sow the seeds in the field where they are to grow.

Its other names

Local names

Alayto, Baddan, Baddana okolee, Ebei, Esei, Hankalta, Kulum, Kurarta, Kuteta, Kuze, Loma, Lomaa,Lomion, Mkonga, Mubadana, Mvambandusi, Mvanga ng'oma, Olkwai, Patana, Sarei

Synonyms

Agialida rotundifolia Tiegh.; Balanites gillettii Cufod; Balanites orbicularis Sprague; Balanites patriziana Lusina;