Rhus vulgaris

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A bush or shrub. It grows 1-7 m high. The leaves have 3 leaflets. They are softly hairy. The leaves are dull green and can be rounded with a notched tip. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are round but flat disks. They are 3-5 mm across. They are brownish-red when dry. The fruit is edible.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows in wooded grassland. It is often on rocky sites and the edges of forests. In East Africa it grows between 1,200-2,700 m altitude. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 700-1,500 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They can be eaten ripe or unripe. Unripe fruit are slightly acidic but ripe fruit are sweet.

They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Berries, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown using fresh seeds.

Fruit are collected at the end of the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Atyendwinyo, Awayo, Aweeya, Bakitela, Bicha oraya, Busojole, Dabobessaa, Datei, Datlaii, Debobesa,Ewaya, Ithia, Kemmo, Kitumbi, Mkeri, Monjororioyat, Msehelele, Msulu, Mtunumbi, Mutheo, Mutheu, Muthigi, Muthigiu, Njowaruwa, Olmungushi, Ol-munyushi, Ormisigiyoi, Sangla-madongo, Wuhehefu, Xaaxessaa, Ye-ahiya-talo

Synonyms

Rhus incana auctt. (sensu Herb.); Rhus villosa auctt. (sensu Herb.);