Bushveld psydrax, Green-twigs quar
Psydrax livida

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It can grow to 8 m tall. The twigs can be hairy. The branches are opposite and horizontal. The leaves are on young stems. They are held in one plane. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaf blade is 2-13 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowers are in groups of 6-70 in compact groups. The fruit are 5-6 mm long by 8 mm wide. They are black when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodlands often below escarpments. It is also on rocky outcrops. It grows on sandy soils and near rivers. It grows between 300-1,600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked. The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Green tree, Groenkwar, Mukavhamahunguvhu, Munyingahonye, Muvenhahonye, Umhlahlampethu

Synonyms

Canthium clityophilum Bullock; Canthium gymnosporioides Launert; Canthium huillense Hiern.; Canthium junodii (Burtt Davy) Burtt Davy; Canthium lividum Hiern.; Canthium syringodorum (K. Schum.) Bullock; Canthium wildii (Suesseng.) Codd.; Plectronia heliotropiodora K. Schum. & K. Krause; Plectronia huillensis (Hiern) K. Schum; Plectronia junodi Burtt Davy; Plectronia livida (Hiern) K. Schum.; Plectronia syringodora K. Schum.; Plectronia wildii Suesseng;