Northern red-berry
Erythrococca menyharthii

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A straggly shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. It has a lose open crown. The bark is pale grey, smooth and flaking. The wood is soft. Young growth has soft hairs. The leaf blades are 2-10 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped. The male flower clusters are 1-5 cm long. The female flower clusters are 1-3 cm long. The fruit are 4 mm long by 9 mm wide. It can have 3 lobes. They are red when ripe. The seeds are 3-4 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in sandy soils and Kalahari sands. It grows 300-1,050 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. They are also added to soups. The fruit are eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dipoko, Modijwane, Muntyonto, Ninaghovo, Noordelike rooibessie, Poko

Synonyms

Claoxylon menyharthii Pax; Claoxylon virens N. E. Br.;