Gaertnera paniculata

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A straggling shrub or small tree. It grows 8-18 m high. It has branches low down. The stems are slightly hairy when young. The leaves are 8-18 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and taper to the tip. They are thinly leathery. The flowers are greenish white. They are in large loose groups 7-30 cm long. They have a sweet scent. The fruit is juicy and purple or blue coloured. They are 9 mm long by 6 mm wide.

There are about 30-70 Gaertnera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist deciduous forests in West Africa. It grows between 1,200-1,450 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The young tender shoots and roots are eaten.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh.

Its other names

Local names

Gboli-wulo, Kimbodia, Kimbodi, Kurumbe, Ng obai

Synonyms

Gaertnera eketensis Wernham; Gaertnera occidentalis Baill.;