Microdesmis puberula

Family: Pandaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. The wood is strong and springy. It can be a creeper. The leaves are narrowly oval and have a pointed tip. They are 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. It has many male flowers and a few female flowers. The flowers are small and 3-9 mm across. They are orange-yellow and in clusters. The fruit are small and red or black berries. The fruit are edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nigeria it is recorded at 1,500 m above sea level. It grows in forest regrowth.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

In Central African Republic plants have been observed flowering in January.

Its other names

Local names

Fema, Kawah, Nikli

Synonyms

Microdesmis zenkeri Pax;