Sandpaper tree, Snot berry
Cordia ovalis

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small bushy tree. It grows 4-7 m high. The bark is pale grey. It is smooth but can be somewhat flaky. The leaves are oval or almost round. They are 5-8 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are leathery and deep green. They are harsh to touch. There are soft yellow hairs underneath. The base is rounded and the edges can be slightly scalloped. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The flowers are yellow. They occur in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit is oval and fleshy. It is up to 2 cm long. They are orange-red when mature. They have a sharp point. They have a cup at the base and this has toothed edges. There is one seed inside a jelly-like pulp.

There are about 300 Cordia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows at low altitudes in hot woodland. Often they are on dry rocky hillsides.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

A fruit weighs about 1 g.

Its other names

Local names

Esegesege, Luketa, Madheed, Madheera hoffee, Mareer-girgir, Se'eki

Synonyms

See Cordia monoica;