Rough-leaved shepherd's tree, Rough-leaved boscia
Boscia angustifolia

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. It grows to 8-12 m tall. The dark is pale grey. The trunk is fluted. The leaves are alternate or in groups of 2-4. They are oblong and 2-7 cm long by 0.7-2 cm wide. They are leathery. They are dark green above and much paler underneath. The flowers are small and sweet-smelling. They occur in crowded heads near the ends of branches. The fruit is round and 10 mm across. It is yellow and almost black. The seeds are in a sticky pulp. This may now be a synonym of Bosica integrifolia J, St-Hil.

There are 37 Boscia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry type of woodland. It grows in dry sites with rainfall between 200-400 mm per year. It grows in the Sahel. It grows from sea level to 2,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten. The seeds are cooked and eaten. The fruit is bitter but eaten. The stems are sweet and provide sugar. The roots can also be used to make tea. The inner bark is used for tea and added to soups. It is also used to sweeten milk. The flowers are used as flavourings and in relishes. The flower buds are pickled in vinegar and used as capers.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, bark - tea, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Emejen, Farin-moro, Fula-fulfulde, Inkinza, Kursan, Mpetu, Mudhlakono, Mupama, Musaza, Pulupumpi, Umbalabala, Umgugudu

Synonyms

Boscia corymbosa Gilg.; Boscia patens Sprague & M. L. Green; and others