Small wild medlar, Velvet-leaf vangueria
Vangueria infausta

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small deciduous tree. It grows to 3 or 4.5 m tall. It can be 7 m tall. It has a smooth grey trunk. The bark becomes rough with age. The branches are short and stout. They are soft and covered with red hair when young. The leaves are light green and leathery. The leaves are 5-30 cm long and 3.8-18 cm wide. They are often egg-shaped. The tips can be round or blunt and they are densely hairy. The veins are like nets. The flowers are greenish-white or yellow. They are small. They grow in clusters. The fruit are round and 3.8 cm across. They have a shallow crown on top and are covered with a light brown leathery skin. They have 3 seeds inside. Each seed is in a separate compartment.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It grows on stony and sandy ground. It grows in shady places. It can tolerate frost. It can tolerate drought. It grows between 10-3,333 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zululand, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The fruit can be used to make a sauce or a pudding. When sugar is added, the fruit looks and tastes like apple sauce. The fruit can be dried and stored. It is later soaked and cooked. The seeds are cracked and the kernels extracted and eaten. They are roasted. They are also used as flavouring. The leaves are cooked as a green vegetable.

It is a valuable fruit. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The fruit are allowed to dry and then soaked in water before planting. Using fertiliser, manure or early irrigation reduces the survival and earl growth of young plants. They are adapted to low fertility and seasonal rainfall.

It grows quickly. Fruit are edible January to April.

Its other names

Local names

Amantulwane, Baraghumo, Bombo, Imadnulu, Imiviyo, Infahlo, Ingumi, Ivili, Iviyo, Kikomoa, Kimoluet, Kimolwet, Leyambaso, Mabelo, Mabilo, Mafila, Mamuemuita, Mapendo, Mbilima, Mfukutu, Mispel, Mkangandembo, Mmilo, Moelwa, Moplo, Mothwanye, Movilo, Mpfilwa, Mpulukututu, Msada, Msambarawe, Msilu, Mudzvirungombe, Muiru, Mukarakassa, Mukumoa, Mulada, Mungolomya, Munzwiru, Muteleli, Mutufu, Mutululo, Muziru, Muzuza, Muzwilo, Muzwiro, Mvilu, Mviru, Mzilu, Ndigiti, Ndowiro, Nombumbu, Nuiri, Nwene, Ol-gumi, Omuya, Santukwan, Titipe, Umbizo, Umfilwa, Umtofu, Umtulwa, Umvile, Umviyo, Vinanana

Synonyms

Canthium infaustum (Burch.) Baill.; Vangueria barnimiana Schweinf.; Vangueria infausta subsp. infausta; Vangueria infausta var. virescens Sond.; Vangueria munjiro S. Moore; Vangueria tomentosa Hochst.; Vangueria velutina Hook.; ? Vangueria campanulata Robyns; Vangueria lasiocladus K. Schum.; Vangueria rotundata Robyns; Vangueria rupicola Robyns;