Cabbage tree, Spiked cabbage tree
Cussonia spicata

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A thickset tree. It grows 3-10 m tall. The bark is yellowish-grey. It is thick and corky. The leaves are crowded near the ends of the branches. They are compound leaves and up to 70 cm across. There are 5-9 leaflets from the end of a stout leaf stalk. This can be 40 cm long. The leaflets are dark green or bluish-green. They are lobed and dissected. The edge has sharp teeth. The flowers are greenish-yellow. They are closely packed along 8-12 thick spikes. These are 5-15 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. The fruit is angular. It is 4-6 mm across. They are purple when mature.

There are 20 Cussonia species. They occur in South Africa.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to E and S Africa. It grows on mountain slopes and dry lowveld. It loses its leaves with heavy frost. In Malawi it grows between 1,250-2,450 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Comoros, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots are chewed for their moisture and the fibre spat out. The thick young roots or tubers are dug out and peeled and chewed. CAUTION: There are reports that the roots are poisonous. The fruit are eaten.

The roots are a famine food.

Edible parts

Fruit, roots, leaves, caution

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Trees are fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Chamdimbo, Chandimbo, Elephant's tooth brush, Enfenge, Intsenge, Kiepersol, Lerole, Lowveld cabbage tree, Maneneh, Mnyonzi, Mosetshe, Mporori, Mubwabwa, Mufenje, Musengele, Musheme, Mushondya, Mussenga, Mutanana, Mwenyiere, Oldimaroi, Olurur, Sokwet, Umsenge, Umsenge, Umtsentse, Wacomo

Synonyms

Cussonia kraussii Hochst.;