Bristly canthium, Rough-leaved rock alder
Bullockia setiflora

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A small shrub or tree with several stems. It can be 4.5 m tall. They have smooth spreading branches. The bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are opposite and in clusters on small side shoots. They are sword shaped or oval. They are narrowly oval and 1-8 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are mid green above and more pale underneath. There are are pale hairs on both surfaces. The flowers are small, yellow and star like. There are 5-7 flowers together on slender stalks in the axils of leaves. The fruit are on short hairy stalks. They are pear shaped and 8-10 mm long. They have 2 lobes. They are black but yellow when ripe. They are edible.

There are about 200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It occurs in deep sand and on the edges of forests along rivers. It can be in dune forest. It grows in deciduous woodland and sand forest. It is usually on rocky outcrops.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Imejoi, Mng'orora, Rough-leaved turkey-berry

Synonyms

Canthium microdon S. Moore; Canthium setiflorum Hiern; Canthium setiflorum subsp. telidosma (K. Schum.) Bridson; Canthium telidosma (K. Schum.) S. Moore; Plectronia setiflora (Hiern) K. Schum.; Plectronia telidosma K. Schum.;