Makoni tea bush
Fadogia ancylantha

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A low growing woody shrub with a woody rootstock 2 cm across. It grows up to 1.8 m tall. There are 2-6 stems. The stems are 3 angled and slightly hairy. The leaves are in pairs or rings of three. They are 3-11 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. The flowers are usually as 2-3 together. They are 2 cm long. They are greenish-yellow and tube shaped. The fruit are grey-green and 12 mm across. They can have 5 lobes.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in woodland and wooded grassland. It grows between 850-1,680 m altitude. It is often on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are fleshy and are eaten raw. Dry leaves are boiled and used for tea. The nectar of the flowers is sucked by children.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, nectar

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds.

In Tanzania the ripe fruit are collected from October to January. The dried leaves can be stored for use for tea.

Its other names

Local names

Booami, Candatala, Chandantala, Kasasyito, Kindokoli, Manduguli, Maso a ng'ombe, Memenela, Meso ga ng'ombe, Msamba ana, Nhecamutiti, Njoga, Umunyamabuye

Synonyms

Fadogia fuchsioides Oliv.; Fadogia obovata N. E. Br.; Temnocalyx ancylanthus (Hiern) Robyns; Temnocalyx fuchsioides sensu Robyns; Temnocalyx obovatus (N. E. Br.) Robyns;