Red-haired laurel
Cryptocarya wyliei

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-4 m high. The bark is grey. The tips of the branches and young buds are covered with hairs. The leaves are small and oval. They are 3 cm long by 1.7 cm wide. They are green above and bluish below. There are rusty hairs underneath young leaves. The base of the leaves is often unequal. The flowers are very small and white. They can occur singly or in small spikes. The fruit is about 1.3 cm across. It is bright red when ripe. The fruit are edible.

There are about 200-250 Cryptocarya species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It occurs in coastal bush and on the edges of forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They can be stewed or used for jam. They have a pleasant taste.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from cuttings. This helps form roots using rooting hormone.

Its other names

Local names

Ingayana, Inqayane, Red quince, Umngcabe, Umnqayane

Synonyms

Cryptocarya sutherlandii Stapf.;