Mbohoya, Mwungo-wungo
Ancylobothrys petersiana

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A climbing shrub. It grows over trees and bushes. It grows 6 m or more high. It has branched tendrils. The young branches are grey or brown. Young branches have rusty hairs. The leaves are hairy and opposite. They are simple and sword shape or oblong with a few hairs on both surfaces. The leaves are leathery. They are more pale underneath. The leaf blade is 5-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowers are 15 mm long and white or cream. They have a sweet scent. The fruit are round and 5 cm across. They are yellow or orange when ripe. The flesh is pulpy. It is edible. They have several seeds in a soft pulp.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in dune scrub and on rocky hillsides. In Tanzania it grows between sea level and 400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is edible. It is an attractive fruit. A drink is made by soaking the fruit is water and then squeezing an filtering the juice. This is sweetened with sugar. This is also frozen and eaten as iced blocks. The skin is removed from unripe fruit but not from ripe fruit. The fruit is eaten ripe or nearly ripe.

The fruit are attractive. They are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from root suckers.

Fruit in Tanzania are collected in April to June and then November and December. Fruit can be stored for about 2 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Kagatta, Macava, Macera, Matutungwa, Mbohoya, Mbooya, Mtoria, Mtowe, Muconja, Muhonga, Muhonga-udide, Mutiele, Mutongazi, Mutungazi, Muzambera, Ndoro, Ntondobonzi, Rava, Vibooya, Vitoja, Vitoria

Synonyms

Ancylobotrys rotundifolia (Dewevre) Pierre; Landolphia angustifolia K. Schum. ex Engl.; Landolphia monteiroi N. E. Br.; Landolphia petersiana (Klotzsch) Hook. f.; Landolphia scandens auctt. (sensu E. A. Herb.); Pacouria petersiana (Klotzsch) S. Moore; Willughbeia petersiana Klotzsch; Willughbeia senensis Klotzsch;