Small-leaf lannea
Lannea humilis

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

It is a shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. The crown is flat. The leaves have 5-21 leaflets. The leaves have white hairs underneath. The end leaflet is 2-3 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The side leaflets are 1-3 cm long by about 1 cm wide. The flowers are in spike like groups. These are 2-5 cm long. The petals are yellow. The fruit is fleshy. It has a grey coating. The fruit are 9-13 mm long by 5-8 mm wide. The are oblong.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Ethiopia it grows in semi-arid bushland. In West Africa it grows in dry woodland and savannah. It also grows in swamps. It grows in the lowlands. It grows between 700-1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw as a snack. The skin of the root is removed and the inner portion eaten cooked or raw.

The root is a famine food. The fruit are eaten in moderate amounts.

Edible parts

Fruit, root, root bark

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings. The young tree can be cut back and allowed to re-grow.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from November to January.

Its other names

Local names

Arish, Athany, Athoin, Beluki, Gumedaa, Gumedaa, Heyyun, Kerwulu, Lilinga, Mgulumo, Mhondobogo, Mlinga, Mlingalinga, Mnghanangha, Mnyamaji, Mtinje, Ngaimirori, Paaruu, Umusharanyoota

Synonyms

Lannea tomentosa (Engl.) Engl.; Odina humilis Oliv.; Odina tomentosa Engl.;