Mottled-bark canthium
Afrocanthium burtii

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 8 m high. Young twigs are green. The bark becomes grey and often mottled. It is smooth and can peel. The leaves are oval and 5-9 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They have fine rather harsh hairs. The veins are dark. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The flowers are greenish. They have a sweet scent. They occur in small round heads in the axils of leaves. They are on a common stalk 2 cm long. The fruit are oval and 10 mm long. They are black when mature. They occur in dense clusters.

There are about 60-200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It occurs at low altitude on rocky hills and in hot dry woodland. In Tanzania it grows between 800-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit pulp is eaten raw. It tastes like chocolate.

Fruit are sold in local markets. The fruit are popular with herdsmen.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In Tanzania fruit are collected February to April.

Its other names

Local names

Mbahuza mtwe, Mgango, Mgubalu, Mkamu, Mpakapaka, Msule, Mubilo, Mulade-nu-nyui, Mumpu-mulengi, Namu, Ngabalu, Ngubalu, Nkamu, Palaswe

Synonyms

Canthium burttii Bullock;