Gardenia aqualla
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2-3 m high. The bark is smooth and yellowish. The branches are hairy. The leaves are in rings and are hairy on both sides. They are oval and 6 cm long by 2 cm wide. The flowers are white to yellow. They are small and 2-4 cm long. They have a straight tube with spreading petals at the end. The fruit is narrowly oval and barrel shaped. They are 4 cm long and yellow.
There are about 200 Gardenia species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the African savannah and the Sahel. It is often in shady depressions. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten. They stain the teeth black.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Boure ke, Bure, Dazunga, Gaude, Giginya,Yiru