Blue bush-cherry
Maerua decumbens

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It grows 3 m high. It often has several stems. It has a tuberous rootstock. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves are broadly oval and greyish-green. They are rough. The flowers are usually white or greenish-yellow. They are produced singly in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit are oval and 3 cm long. They are on long stalks. The fruit are yellow or orange when ripe. They contain 1-4 seeds

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry bushland and on sandy or light clay soils. It grows in low rainfall woodlands. It grows at low altitude. It grows in hot dry arid places. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are sucked and are sweet. The seeds are boiled for 3-4 hours with the water being changed 4-6 times and are then eaten. Alternatively the seeds are soaked for 2 days then rinsed and cooked. The roots are added to water to make it sweet then used as a drink. The root is pounded and used in soup. The root bark is chewed for its sweet taste. Caution: Many plants in this group need careful preparation.

The fruit pulp is eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, root bark, bark - tea, caution

How it is grown

It can re-grow quickly from woody rootstocks.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from January to March.

Its other names

Local names

Abiro, Aruru, Cheplis, Chepiliswo, Chepu-luswo, Luwuga, Msakasaka, Muswezu, Muthana, Muwumbu, Olkiage, Segele, Soswe

Synonyms

Courbonia edulis Gilg. & Benedict; Maerua edulis (Gilg & Bened.) De Wolf;