False rubber tree
Holarrhena floribunda

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 17-25 m high. The trunk can be 30 cm across. The leaves are shiny. The flowers are white. They have a scent. The wood is soft. The fruit is pale grey to dark brown. There are 2 follicles that are 60 cm long.

It contains alkaloids and is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous forest and savannah. It is often in palm groves and along river banks. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo R, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Stem

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed. Seed can simply be broadcast. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Basa, Bedufe, Bedufi, Bidufe, Bongakon, Bripatche, Charra-quidje, Endama, Ete-eri, Gbasa, Holarrhene, Ka-mats, Kinzenze, Kurchi bark, Machalo, Nukui, Nuku, Pohon karet jantan, Rubitchi, Sese, Tcharaquidje, Tcharico, Tchoraqui, Tendo, Wangolo-wangolo

Synonyms

Holarrhena africana A. DC.; Holarrhena wulfsbergii Stapf.; Rondeletia floribunda G. Don;