Mufungofungo-wacana
Anisophyllea quangensis

Family: Anisophylleaceae

What it is like

A shrub usually with many stems. It has underground stems. It grows 80 cm high. The branches have hairs when young. The bark is fairly smooth. The leaves are alternate in 4 rows with the upper 2 rows reduced in size. The leaves are 3-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are oval. The flowers are in spikes on the upper part of the branches in the axils of leaves. The flowers are yellow-brown. The petals have 3 lobes. The fruit are fleshy with a hard seed inside. The fruit are 3.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and red. They are edible.

Fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on grassland on sandy soils at about 1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cabinda, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Gabon, Zambia

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. The seed kernel is eaten in times of famine.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seed, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Fruit are produced throughout the year.

Its other names

Local names

Loengo, Mbila esobe, Mbungu, Mfungu mfungu, Mfuongo, Mufungo-fungo, Prune du Kasai

Synonyms

Anisophyllea buettneri Engl.; Anisophyllea fruticulosa Engl. et Gilg.; Anisophyllea poggei Engl.; Anisophyllea pochetii P. A. Duvign. & Dewit;