False assegaai
Maesa lanceolata

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It has many branches. It grows 6 m tall. The leaves are narrowly oval and alternate. The leaves are large and 25 cm long by 12 cm wide. The flowers are white. They are in dense clusters in the axils of leaves. There are 2 subspecies. The fruit are cream coloured when ripe and are 6 mm across. See Maesa nuda

Also put in the family Myrsinaceae. They are also put in the family Maesaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Swaziland it grows only in the high veld. It grows on the edge of forests and in mountain grassland. In Zimbabwe it grows between 900-2,000 m above sea level. It grows in higher rainfall areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit are poisonous. The fruit are used for greasing baking dishes. They are also recorded as being eaten raw. The bark is used as an ingredient in a stimulant drink.

Edible parts

Seeds - oil, bark - flavouring, vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

A fruit weighs about 0.1 g.

Its other names

Local names

Abayi, Asaboratsy, Chi:nhundo, Chinuni, Gowacho, Indende, Kelewa, Ligucu, Magucu, Mangachule, Mbhongozi, Mdenjele, Mnakakama, Mpari, Mubilishi, Mudovatova, Musangula, Musungwa, Mutendekwani, Mutibammela, Muunguri, Muvumba-ngoma, Namuinho, Phophopho, Radoko, Qelawa, Valsassegaai, Voarafy

Synonyms

Baeobotrys lanceolata Vahl; Baeobotrys ovata Willd. ex Schlult.; Baeobotrys picta Hochst. ex Walp.; Baeobotrys rufescens E. Mey. ex A. DC.; Maesa angolensis Gilg.; Maesa arabica J. F. Gmel.; Maesa indica Hook. f.; Maesa lanceolata var. mildbraedii (Gilg. & G. Schellenb.) Lebrun; Maesa mentzelii Gilg. & G. Schellenb.; Maesa nuda Hutch. & Dalziel; Maesa ovata Thouars ex Schult.; Maesa picta Hochst.; Maesa trichophlebia Baker; Maesa vestita Jacq.-Fel.; Maesa rufescens A. DC.;