Fadogia elskensii
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrubby herb. It has a woody rootstock. Several unbranched stems arise from the rootstock. The upper stems are 4 angled. The stems are 25-90 cm tall. The leaves are in rings of 3-4. They have a round base and sharp tip. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are small and yellow to green. They are in groups or 1-5 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round, shiny and black. They have 5 rough seeds.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and grassland subject to seasonal burning. In Tanzania it grows between 1,000-1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Tanzania
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are sweet and eaten raw. The nectar from the flowers is sucked by children.
Edible parts
Fruit, nectar
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds and also from cuttings of the rootstock.
The ripe fruit are collected from October to January.
Its other names
Local names
Booami, Kindokoli, Madunguli, Nakalondo