Forest velvet false-currant
Allophylus abyssinica

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 6-25 m tall. The trunk can be 50-100 cm across. The bark is smooth and greyish-green. The leaves are arranged in spirals and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are narrowly oval and 14 cm long by 6 cm wide. There are irregular teeth along the edge. The flowers are in catkins that are branched 1 or 2 times. These flowering shoots are 8 cm long. The fruit is 8 mm long by 6 mm wide. It is oval to round.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lower mountain forest. It is recorded between 650-4,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten raw.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Imbis, Irekemu, Odyaka, Xonxolooma

Synonyms

Schmidelia abyssinica Hochst.;