Bushveld honeysuckle tree, Small mahogany
Turraea nilotica

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A deciduous shrub or tree. It grows 2-4 m high. It can be 10 m high. The bark is grey. The leaves are large and oval. They are 16 cm long by 10 cm wide. Underneath it is covered with hairs. The base tapers into the leaf stalk. The flowers are greenish-white but turn yellow with age. Petals are 2.2 cm long by 0.3 cm wide. They occur in dense clusters along the younger branches. The fruit is almost round. It is a thinly wooded capsule. It is 5-10 mm across. It splits to release blackish seeds.

There are about 66-70 Turraea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open wooded grassland and on rocky ridges. It can grow on termite mounds. It grows between 60-1,525 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION; The dried leaves are poisonous. The fruit are eaten.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bonco-bonco, Chetsa, Chipindura, Isidlamvundala, Kanjedza, Kokote, Mkulabala, Msindila, Mulya-nsefu, N'tunda, Ntunda

Synonyms

Turraea randii E.G. Baker;