Cape beech
Rapanea melanophloeos

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or tree. It grows 3-18 m tall. The stem is straight. It can be fluted at the base in large plants. The bark is black. The leaves are crowded at the ends of branches. The leaf stalks are pink or red. The leaf blade has clear dots or streaks along it. The flowers are in small groups. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and 3-5 mm across. They are purple and have one seed.

Also put in the family Myrsinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in arid places. It is usually in high rainfall areas and on exposed rocky cliffs.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chimbango, M'Chane, Mudonera, Mudongera, Mufuro, Mukwiramakoko, Murwiti, Mutomo

Synonyms

Rapanea gracilior Mildbr.; Rapanea neurophylla (Gilg.) Mez; Rapanea pellucida-striata Gilg & Schellenb.; Rapanea pulchra Gilg. & Schellenb.; Rapanea rhododendroides (L.) Mez; Rapanea runsorrica (Gilg.) Mez; Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br.; Sideroxylon melanophloeos L. Rapanea schliebenii Mildbr.; Rapanea ulugurensis Mez; Rapanea umbratilis S. Moore; Rapanea usambarensis Gilg & Schellenb.;