Madagascar brexia
Brexia madagascariensis

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It is dense, with many branches. It is mostly only 2-3 m high. The bark is grey with stripes. The leaves are alternate and vary in shape. They are narrow and oblong. They are 3.5-14 cm long and thickly leathery. The flowers are white large and with 5 spreading petals. These tend to curve backwards. These can be 2 cm long. The flowers occur in loose clusters. They are mostly in leaf axils but sometimes on old wood. The fruit are long and narrow and woody. They are 9 cm long with 5 ridges. The fruit can float in the sea for months and the seed remain viable. They contain many seeds.

There is only one Brexia although some scholars recognise nine or eleven. Some put this one in the Grossulariaceae, Brexiaceae, Escalloniaceae and other families.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in bush and scrub near the beach. It can also be at the edges of mangrove swamps. It can grow up to 100 m above sea level. It has been grown up to 1,500 m above sea level. It needs full sun and a reasonably fertile soil. It is best in a well-drained, moist soil. It can tolerate alkaline soils, salty soils and salt spray. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Comoros, East Africa, Hawaii, Indonesia, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Mozambique, Pacific, SE Asia, Seychelles, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit softens as it ripens to become edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is usually grown from seed. The fruit can float in sea water for many months and the seeds will still grow.

In Tanzania ripe fruit are available in November and December.

Its other names

Local names

Anagafuma, Mfukufuku, Mfurugudu, Mkurufu, Mpumbuti, Mutamonga, Pohon bresia madagaskar, Umatunga, Venana, Voatanga, Voatalany

Synonyms

Thomassetia seychellarum Hemsley; Vanana madagascariensis Lam.; Brexia acanthifolia Noronha ex Tul. nom nud.; Brexia amplifolia Noronha ex Tul nom. nud.; Brexia chrysophylla Sweet nomen nudum; Brexia digyna Noronha ex Tul nom. nud.; Brexia heterophylla Bojer nom. illegit.; Brexia humbertii H. Perrier; Brexia madagascariensis (Lam.) Ker Gawler var. mossambicensis Oliver; Brexia microcarpa Tul.; Brexia ovatifolia Noronha ex Tul. nom synon.; Brexia spinosa Lindl.; and others