Olax gambecola

Family: Olacaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3 m high. The leaves are narrowly oval and 11 cm long by 4 cm wide. The flowers are white. The fruit are round and red. They are 5 mm across. They are edible when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the closed forest often near the edges of swamps in West Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The leaves and fruit have the taste of garlic. The seeds are grated and added to food as a garlic substitute. The fruit are eaten.

It is valued as a flavouring.

Edible parts

Seeds - flavouring, leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bakwi, Gumundui, Kiwaya, Kubi, Oruatu ogili, Va

Synonyms

Alsodeiopsis glaberrima Engl. ex Hutch. & Dalziel; Olax aliacea (De Wild.) Boutique; Olax poggei Egnl.; Olax viridis Oliv.; Ptychopetalum alliaceum De Wild.; Ptychopetalum nigricans De Wild.;