Clitandra cymulosa

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A creeper. It grows to 40-100 m long. The trunk can be 12 cm across. The bark is rough and peels off. The leaves are narrowly oval and 4-20 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They taper to the tip and are wedge shaped at the base. The fruit are about 7 cm across. They are round or pear shaped and have a harder layer on the outside. There are between 6-25 seeds. They are about 1 cm across.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest. It grows between 1,100-1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Niger, Sahel, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The very acid fruit are eaten raw, including the seeds.

Fruit are sold in markets. They are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

In Congo the fruiting season is July to October. In Central African Republic plants flower January to May.

Its other names

Local names

Abubuka, Bokamba, Denga, Dinkalanga, Iganda, Inono, Lekaga, Lilolo, Linono, Lombe, Madinga, Makalanga, Mbado, Mukumbi, Nkombye, Onono, Oveng-ndzic, Pembe

Synonyms

Clitandra arnoldiana de Wild.; Clitandra orientalis K.Schum.; and others