Large-leafed cordia, Sudan teak
Cordia africana

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It looses its leaves during the year. The crown is rounded. The trunk is often crooked. It grows 15 m high. The bark is pale brown and rough. It becomes cracked with age. The leaves are large and oval. They can be 16 cm long. They taper towards the tip. The base is rounded. The leaves are dark green above and paler underneath. The young shoots and underneath the leaves are covered with soft brown hairs. The flowers are white. They are funnel shaped. The occur in large numbers near the ends of branches. The flowers have a sweet scent. The fruit are round and 1 cm across. They are yellow. They are in a hairy cup. The seeds are in sweet sticky flesh. The fruit is edible. They contain about 6 seeds.

There are about 320 Cordia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wooded grassland and forest. It grows between 1,200-2,100 m altitude in East Africa. It cannot tolerate frost. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Arabia, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Hawaii, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Pacific, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit has a sweet edible pulp and are eaten raw. It is used for drinks and sweets. The fruit are also dried. The seeds are eaten fresh. The kernel of the nut is used to make an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. Fruit are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

It grows quickly. Fruit are produced during the dry season.

Its other names

Local names

Aluluba, Banja, Dampaey, Dapee, Galmi, Gambil, Gimbil, Koffe, Lbolinga, Makobokobo, Mbwabwa, Mearera, Meqota, Mfumbang-oma, Mkulukulu, Mpefu, Mringaringa, Mtondo, Mukebu, Mukumari, Muringa, Nabukwe, Ngongoza, Nkungwa, Ntuthu, Otaya, Otayita, Ottayta, Urogu, Waaddiicho, Wadessa, Wanza, Wdecha, Wodessa

Synonyms

Cordia abyssinica R. Br.; Cordia holstii Gurke; Cordia ubanghensis A. Chev.;