Saba, Gumvine
Saba senegalensis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A creeper or liana. It grows over 40 m long. It can be 47 cm around. The trunk can be 20 cm across. The leaves are opposite and twice as long as wide. The flowers are in groups of 3-30 and a loose group. They are tube shaped and have a yellow throat. The fruit are oval and 6 cm long and 8 cm across. The pulp is yellow. It is sweet-sour, soft and edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests in West Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana (country/location of origin), Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for drinks.

The fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - flavouring, bark

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Anoma, Bindipe, Bundok, Bu hindik, Buoca, Capdjone, Fole-de-elefanta, Fole, Foli, Foligros, Gulugu, Ibo gidi, Lare, Liane goine, Mad, Ora, Sagba, Sono-nantin, Tole, Wedga, Zaban

Synonyms

Landolphia senegalensis (A. DC.) Kotschy & Peyr.; Landolphia senegalensis var. glabriflora Hua; Saba senegalensis var. glabriflora (Hua) Pichon; Vahea senegalensis A. DC.;