Rough-skinned bush-cherry
Maerua juncea

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A scrambling shrub. It has many stems. It can be a climber. The branches arch over. It loses many leaves during the year. It can grow up to 15 m high. The leaves are alternate and grey-green. They have 1-3 leaflets. These are narrowly oval. The flowers are clustered near the ends of the branches. They are white. The petals are small and there is a half round head of long stamens. The fruit is oval and green to orange when ripe. Subspecies crustata has rough skin on the fruit and subspecies juncea has smooth fruit.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in places with a marked dry season. It can tolerate frost. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 50-1,400 mm. It grows in sandy and stony soils. It grows between 5-1,370 m above sea level. It is drought tolerant. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Its other names

Local names

Havane, Ibiswa, Kabondo, Maqi, Muteruteru, Slangeier, Smooth-fruit bush-cherry, Umbetabhloni

Synonyms

Maerua flagellaris (Oliv.) Gilg & Benedict; Maerua nervosa Oliv. var. flagellaris Oliv.;