Confetti tree
Maytenus senegalensis

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is usually 3-5 m high but can be 9 m high. The bark is light grey and smooth. Young branches are reddish and can have thorns. The leaves are alternate and oblong. They are 2-12 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are pale blue-green with a whitish bloom. The flowers are cream or white and 4-6 mm across. They occur in dense clusters in the axils or leaves. These clusters are 4 cm across. They have a sweet scent. The sexes are separate and usually on separate trees. The fruit is a 2 lobed capsule. They are 2-6 mm across. They are green with a red colour when mature. The seeds have a yellow or pink seed coat.

There are about 200 Maytenus species. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 2400 m altitude in South Africa. It is common in open woodland. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 2,100 m altitude. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 200-1,500 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The wood and leaves are reduced to ash and used as a vegetable salt. The fruit is eaten raw. The seed coat is removed before the seeds are eaten. The roots are cooked and eaten with meat broth. The leaves and flowers are eaten in soup. They are boiled in water and the water changed then cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Seeds, roots, fruit, flowers, leaves - flavouring, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Plants grow fairly quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Akwichanian, Baikai, Bharkad, Boukhlal, Chichangua, Chivhunabadza, Chizhuzhu, Ekaburu, Guiel-gotel, Gwengweni, Isihlangu, Kakra, Kankera, Khatai, Koshikosh, Kumakuafo, Lele, Ligoga, Maytenus, Mdunga-ndewe, Mpabulu, Mpakula, Mpelu, Mugaranjiva, Muiua, Mukokoba, Musosaguva, Musosawafa, Musukameno, Mutotova, Ngege, Nyenyele, Red spike-thorn, Tahogomou, Tisha

Synonyms

Celastrus senegalensis Lam.; Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.; Gymnospora montana (Roth) Benth.; Catha europea, Catha montana Roth;