Horsewood
Hippobromus pauciflorus

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A small to medium sized tree. It is usually 3-9 m tall and slender. The trunk is 15-20 cm across. The leaves are alternate and compound. There are 3-6 pairs of leaflets. These are oval and 0.8-5 cm long and almost opposite. The midrib is winged. They are usually unequal-sided and narrow to the base. The flowers are small and yellow. They are in short velvety panicles in the axils of leaves. The fruit is round and the size of a pea. The seed is black.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude in South Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit is not edible but when the leaves or fruit are beaten in water they make a froth which is eaten by children. It can cause vomiting. CAUTION: It could be poisonous.

Edible parts

Froth fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Basterperdepis, Ulwathile, Umfazi-onoxolo

Synonyms

Rhus pauciflora L.f.; Hippobromus alatus (L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh.;