Bob-cherry, Climbing saffronwood
Lauridia tetragona

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A climber or scrambling shrub. It can be 0.6-2.5 m high. The branches are grey and flexible. The twigs are usually 4 angled. The flower shoots tend to grow backwards. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are leathery and 1.3-8 cm long by 0.6-5 cm wide. The edges of the leaves are often wavy and rolled inward. They often have spiny teeth. The flowers are small and white. They occur in clusters. The fruit are green but turn red or black when ripe. They have a stone inside. The fruit are edible.

There are 80 Cassine species. Most are in Africa. The Celastraceae are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It occurs in dune bush. It is also in evergreen forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. Eating too many dries the mouth.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Droelewer(bessies)

Synonyms

Rhamnus tetragonus L.f.; Celastrus tetragonus Thunb.; Cassine scandens Eckl. & Zeyh.; Cassine latifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.; Cassine latifolia var. heterophylla Sond.; Allocassine tetragona (L.f.) N. Robson; Cassine tetragona (L. f. ) Loes;