Gummy canthium
Afrocanthium lactescens

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows to 5-10 m high. The branches are horizontal. The bark is dark grey. It is smooth but becomes rough with age. The leaves are produced in side spur shoots. One pair of leaves and one internode are added each year. Leaves are oval and 19 cm long by 16 cm wide. They have a smooth feel. They are pale to dark green and turn yellow in autumn. The base is lobed. The leaf stalk is thick and 1.5 cm long. The flowers are small and white or pale yellow. They have a sweet scent. They occur in loose open sprays in the clusters of leaves. The fruit are oval and unequal. They are 7-10 mm long. Sometimes they have 2 lobes. They are brown to purple when mature. They are edible.

There are about 200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in deciduous woodland. It is often protected amongst rocks. In Kenya it grows between 1,000-2,300 m altitude. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall between 1,000-1,300 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are sweet.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Amalerh, Bolocket, Buterwo, Emaler, Kaibetwa, Keipetwo, Kerbatwa, Kimolwet, Komolwo, Kunkomwo, Larugach, Mukumbulu, Munkolo-bondo, Olkumi, Ol-maldei

Synonyms

Canthium lactescens Hiern.; Canthium randii S. Moore; Canthium umbrosum Hiern.; Plectronia lactescens (Hiern) K. Schum.; Plectronia psychotrioides K. Schum. ex De Wild.; Plectronia randii (S. Moore) Eyles; Plectronia umbrosa (Hiern) K. Schum.;