Canthium oligocarpum

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can be 2-20 m tall. The trunk and branches have sharp spines. Young trees have spines in groups of 2-3 on the trunk. These can be 2 cm long. They occur as 2 or 3 together. The bark is grey and smooth. It loses its leaves for a short time. Old leaves turn red. The leaves are opposite or in rings or 3 or 4. They are narrowly oval and 3-14 cm long. The tip is long but blunt. The leaves are papery and dark above but paler underneath. The flowers are white to yellow. They are in loose heads that hang down. The flowers are small and tube shaped and about 25 occur in a group. They are greenish-yellow. The fruit hang in loose bunches. They have 2 lobes and a notch at the tip. They are about 2 cm long. There are 2 seeds in each.

There are about 60-200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mountain rainforest. It grows in the forest understorey. It suits humid locations. It grows in moist forest between 1,800-2,200 m above sea level in Tanzania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fleshy fruit are eaten as a snack.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Coralla, Kincho, Mdaia, Mhamamala, Mhomanga, Msanda, Mtabagira, Ntula-vuha

Synonyms

Canthium oligocarpum subsp. oligocarpum; Canthium ruwenzoriense Bullock; Canthium sidamense Cufod;