Lowveld toad tree
Tabernaemontana elegans

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 3-5 m tall. It can reach 10 m tall. The bark is thick and pale cream. It is corky and deeply cracked. The small branches have tough stringy bark. The leaves are oblong and 9-20 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. They are thinly leathery, The are glossy dark green above and paler underneath. The flowers are white to cream and 2.5 cm across. They occur in loose heads in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit are paired. Each section is almost round and joined at the base. They are 6-7 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. They are ridged with the tip turned down into a beak. They are dark green dotted with pale grey warts. They split when mature to expose bright orange pulp with many brown seeds. The pulp is edible.

There are 99-110 Tabernaemontana species. They are tropical and subtropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native from East Africa to South Africa. It grows at low altitudes on the ends of evergreen forests near rivers. It can be in coastal scrub forest. It is often in rocky places. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 850 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa (country/location of origin), Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is eaten. The leaves (and fruit) are used to curdle milk. Caution: Some plants in this family are poisonous.

It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

In southern Africa plants flower September to March and fruit February to August.

Its other names

Local names

Inomfi, Kahla, Kahlwana, Kakope, Kuhlu, Mkhahlu, Muhatu, Nkahlu, Nkahlwane, Paddaboom, Ruchene, Toad tree, Umfomamasi, Umhahlu, Umkhalu

Synonyms

Conopharyngia elegans (Stapf) Stapf;