Buffalo thorn, Cape thorn
Ziziphus mucronata

Family: Rhamnaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 9 m tall. It has many sharp thorns. It has spreading and often drooping branches. The trunk is often crooked. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are shiny and have 3 veins from the base. The leaves are 2.5-8 cm long by 1.9-8 cm wide. Leaves and young plant parts can be hairy. There can be thorns at the nodes. The flowers are small and green. The flowers are in small clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round. They are red and shiny. There is a sweet mealy pulp around a large seed.

Chemical composition: Protein (crude): 2.8% (dry). Fat = 2.1% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 4.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 4.1%. Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 29.5% (dry). Sucrose = 48,5% (dry). D-glucose = 1.1% (dry). D-fructose = 1.0% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 16.6g. Threonine = 3.4g. Serine = 3.9g. Glutamic acid = 17.6g. Proline = 5.3g. Glycine = 4.9g. Alanine = 7.5g. Valine= 5.1g. Cysteine = 1.0g. Methionine = 1.0g. Isoleucine = 4.3g. Leucine = 8.5g. Tyrosine = 3.6g. Phenylalanine = 4.3g. Lysine = 3.9g. Histidine = 1.4g. Arginine = 4.7g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.05% (dry). Potassium = 0.12% (dry). Magnesium = 0.10% (dry). Calcium = 0.27% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 2.08% (dry). Zinc = 6mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 289 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 10mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 3mg/kg-1 (dry).

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in open scrub. It can grow on a range of soils. It is often on embankments and termite mounds. In East Africa it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level. It is drought resistant. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh or dried. Often they are eaten in porridge. They can be used for drinks. The fruit are also ground and used in coffee. The roasted seeds are crushed and used as a coffee substitute. The fruit have been fermented for beer. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - coffee, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings. It is best to remove the seeds from the stone by cracking with a hammer. Seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks when outside the stone or 2 months when inside the stone.

Seedlings grow quickly. They can be 4-6 m high in 4-5 years.

Its other names

Local names

Angaw, Bokxalo, Buqunqura, Chinanga, Cidir, Djabi fourou, Ghaghari, Imphafa, Ireme bale, Kagowole, Kangwa, Kangwa, Kankona, Kitola usuu, Kitoloussuu, Kobta, Koopta, Kurkura hado, Kurquura, Kusia-a, Lango, Langu, Loilalei, Mausu, Mgugune, Mkunazi, Mnyangwe, Mokekete, Mokgalo, Mokhalo, Mothalo, Msarakanga, Muae, Mubuyu, Muchecheni, Mughughunu, Mugugune, Mukala, Mukekete, Mukhalu, Mukwata, Mupakwe, Mupasamala, Mutanula, Mutshetshate, Mutsotsomba, Ngorloki-govong, Ngugunu, Nphasamhala, Olango, Ol-oilale, Oloilahi, Oloilalei, Omukaru, Omukekete, Qurqura, Souroukou tomonon, Umlah’abantfu, Umpafa, Umpakwe, Umpatle, Umphafa

Synonyms

Ziziphus abyssinica sensu Palgrave; Ziziphus mitis A. Rich.;