Fadogia cienkowskii
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A low growing woody shrub. There is a woody rootstock and one or several stems can grow from this. It grows 1 m high. The stems are hairy. The leaves are in rings of 3-4. They are 2-9 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. There are 2-6 flowers in a group. The fruit is dark green and becoming black and shiny. They are 1 cm across.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in lowlands and highlands. It grows in the savannah in West Africa. It grows in the drier parts of Africa.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Caution: The plant contains alkaloids, flavones, saponins and tannins.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bafankodomo, Findokoli, Kindokoli, Kitokoli, Ndumbilu, Sugan, Vikoko