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Greve's caper, Greve's garlic pear
Crateva greveana

Family: Capparaceae


What it is like

A small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. The trunk has low branches. The bark is smooth and can have corky dots. The leaves are compound. The leaves are arranged alternately along the twigs. The leaves have 3-7 oval or sword shaped leaflets. These are 5-27 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. They are light green and taper to the base. The sides are slightly unequal. The flowers are in clusters and 5 cm wide. The fruit are oval or round and slightly woody. They are 6-15 cm long. The seeds are kidney shaped.


Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid and dry scrubland and forests. It grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Madagascar (country/location of origin)


How it is used for food

The fruit are boiled leaves are edible.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves


How it is grown


Its other names

Local names

Alalamisy, Ampody, Boromena, Hazonpasy, Keliony, Mafanakelika, Tangena, Teloravina, Tongohakoho, Tsilehabeko, Voampliana, Vodihaomby

Synonyms