Octopus cabbage tree, Deadman's fingers
Cussonia arborea

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows up to 9 m high. It loses its leaves. The stem produces gum when cut. The leaves are like fingers on a hand and there are 7-9 lobes. The leaf stalk is 12-16 cm long. The flower spikes are 20-40 cm long. They are densely covered with small flowers. The fruit are very small. They are round and black when ripe.

There are 25 Cussonia species. They occur in South Africa.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It needs a warm, frost-free climate. In Malawi it grows above 1,000 m altitude. It can resist fire. In Zimbabwe it grows between 850-1,750 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. It can also be grown from large cuttings of from root cuttings.

In Malawi the season is February to March.

Its other names

Local names

Chandimbo, Copo-copo, Cundudzi, Cut hand, Kapwapwe, Kitompo, Mbwabwa, Mufenje, Mupombwe, Mushondya, Mutovi, Papaia-do-moto, Stump of limb, Umelemele

Synonyms

Cussonia kirkii Seem.; Cussonia laciniata Harms; Cussonia nigerica Hutch.; Cussonia delevoyi De Willd.; Cussonia homblei De Willd.;