Feretia apodanthera subsp. tanzaniensis
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is smooth and red-grey. The leaves are opposite and small. They are oval and 1-5 cm long. They can have a sharp tip or be rounded. It can have fine hairs. The flowers appear before the new leaves. There can be one or a few flowers on short shoots. The flowers are tube shaped and pink. They are 2.5 cm long and have a hairy throat. The fruit is a round fleshy berry. They are pink or red with white or purple streaks. They are 1.7 cm across. They have several flat seeds.
Subsp. not in The Plant List.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Tanzania
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten as a snack.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
It Tanzania it grows between April to July.
Its other names
Local names
Ikechu, Mbuguswa, Mginya, Mnanyeza, Mpakapaka