Scented bells
Rothmannia manganjae

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-6 m high. It can be 18 m tall. The bark is grey to brown and smooth. The leaves are sword shaped. They are 11 cm long by 5 cm wide. They are glossy green. The leaves taper to both ends. The edges are wavy. The leaf stalk is 6 mm long. The flowers are creamy-white with dark red or purple marks on the throat. The flowers are bell shaped and 10 cm long by 8 cm wide. They have a sweet scent. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit is round and about 5 cm across. They are green when mature but become blackish when dry.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in woodland and at the edges of evergreen forest. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Mdiokola, Mdogodya, Mdyanjima, Mfukula, Mkoma, Mtowitowi, Mtseche, Mudododo, Mzondo

Synonyms

Gardenia manganjae Hiern.;