Burasaia madagascariensis
Family: Menispermaceae
What it is like
A shrub or climber. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalk is 7-14 cm long. It is swollen and bent near the end. The leaflets are up to 10 cm long. It is wedge shaped at the base and tapers to the tip. The flowers are of one sex. The fruit are oval and fleshy. It is 2 cm long. There is one seed. The fruit are yellow or orange.
There are 5 Burasaia species. It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It can grow in humid and dry forests. It grows from sea level to 1,600 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Comoros, East Africa, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Mauritius, Reunion
How it is used for food
The leaves are used for an aromatic bitter in beer production.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves - spice
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ambarakasa, Ambarasaha, Ambarasaka, Amborasaha, Amborasahamaitso, Amborasahy, Amboravaky, Borasaha, Faritatsy, Odiandro, Oditohina, Ralakamisy