Redwing
Pterolobium stellatum

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A scrambling shrub. It can grow 15 m high. The young stems are covered hairs and with prickles. The leaves are compound. The leaflets are 6-10 mm long and 2-4 mm wide with 7-16 pairs of leaflets per leaflet stalk. The fruit is a pod with wings. It is bright red. The pods are 3-5 cm long. The seed is at the base and is 10 mm long by 5-7 mm wide and 3 mm thick.

There are 10 Pterolobium species. 9 are in Asia and 1 in Africa. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edge of the forest. It grows up to 1,750 m altitude. In Zimbabwe it is between 850-1,750 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gado, Kentefa, Rukato, Umufataangwe, Umugeyo, Uthathawe

Synonyms

Cantuffa exosa J. F. Gmel.; Pterolobium exosum (J. F. Gmel.) Bak. f.; Pterolobium lacerans R. Br.; Mimosa stellata Forssk.;