Sand camwood, Jasmine pea
Baphia massaiensis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 8 m high. The leaves have leaflets 9 cm long by 5.5 cm wide. They are oval. The flowers are in groups of up to 7. These become reduced to a single flower. The petals are white with a yellow mark on the standard. The fruit is a pod 7-11 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. It is a purple brown. The seeds are 8-11 mm long by 7-9 mm wide. They are reddish-black.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It is in open woodlands. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It grows between 250-1,350 m above sea level. It cannot tolerate frost. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw. The roots are boiled to make a tea.

Edible parts

Fruit, roots - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cimpakwe, Isunde, Mbundje, M'hikinike, Mumwena, Mwama, Omulyambambi

Synonyms

Baphia obovata Schinz;