Cape myrtle, African-boxwood
Myrsine africana

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can be 3 m high. The bark is reddish. The branches are 0.5-2 mm thick. The leaves are small and sword shaped or round. They are 0.5-2 cm long by 0.5-1 cm wide. They are leathery and glossy green. There can be small teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and pink. The fruit is thinly fleshy and 4 mm across. They are pink when mature.

There are about (5 or 6) 200-300 Myrsine species. They grow in the tropics. Also put in the family Myrsinaceae.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows among rocks and in open woodland. It grows in moist areas in Miombo woodland. It occurs over a wide range of altitudes. It can be on the edges of evergreen forest. In China it grows in open mountain slopes and dry sunny places. It occurs between 1000-3600 m in S China. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Azores, Britain, Central Africa, China, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Portugal - Azores, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or used as an adulterant of black pepper. The seeds are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, bark

How it is grown

Plants are easily grown from seed. They can be grown from cuttings.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from June to December.

Its other names

Local names

Abeye, Afriška mirzina, Bebrang, Chapra, Chuchurina, Ghani, Gugil, Kakhum, Kanakalayi, Katezu, Kechemo, Lagancii, Mahheli, Mako, Manro gaya, Marurrang, Myrsine, Olsegetit, Qacaama, Qacama, Rikhdalmi, Segedid, Shamshad, Small myrsine, Tie zai, Vuzamane, Xinqitata, Zuma

Synonyms

Myrsine africana var. acuminata C.Y. Wu & C.Chen; Myrsine africana var. bifaria (Wall.) Franchet; Myrsine africana var. glandulosa J.M.Zhang; Myrsine africana var. retusa A DC; Myrsine bifaria Wall.; Myrsine microphylla Hayata; Myrsine otama D.Don; Myrsine vaccinifolia Hayata; Rhamnus myrtillus H.Leveille;