Cremaspora triflora

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

It can be a shrub, woody creeper or small tree. It grows 9 m tall. It usually has many branches. The leaves are simple and entire and opposite. The leaf blade is 2-18 cm long by 1-9 cm wide. It has a rounded base and tapers to the tip. The flowers are in a dense group 2-4 cm wide. The flowers contain both sexes and have a strong sweet smell. The flowers are white or yellow. The fruit is an oval berry 7-15 mm long by 5-7 mm wide. It is red and usually has 2 seeds.

There are 3 Cremaspora species. It is used as a dye and medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forest from sea level to 2,000 m altitude. It grows in forests, thickets and palm groves. In Zimbabwe it grows between 700-1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are edible.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Landam-edi, Mchesi, Mtsonga nyomba, Mubaba-wanika, Muceki, Sasatcha

Synonyms

Psychotria triflora Thonn.;