Ixora brachypoda

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It has a single stem. It grows 6 m high. It can be a small tree with a trunk 60 cm around. The leaves are 8-37 cm long by 5-14 cm wide. They are oval and leathery and dull. There are many flowers in a group. The flowers have a scent. The fruit are 8 mm across. They are red or orange. They turn purplish-black.

There are about 400 Ixora species. They grow in tropical countries.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in swamp forest and damp locations in West Africa. In southern Africa it grows between 1,200-1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Batiango, Dukei, Dunquel, Duquei, Miquelembefio, Musongwa, Obassa

Synonyms

Ixora radiata Hiern.; Ixora rhodesiaca Brem.;