Smooth wild medlar, Kalahari wild medlar
Vangueria cyanescens
Family: Rubiaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It has many stems and grows 4 m high. The bark is smooth and grey. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 18 cm long by 7 cm wide. They are arranged opposite one another. There are many flowers on branched stalks. The flowers are greenish tubes. The fruit are round and about 3 cm across. They have a ring at the top. They are green but turn yellow-brown when ripe. There are about 5 seeds. The fruit are edible.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas of mountainous savannah. It grows in hot arid places with a marked dry season of up to 6-11 months. It can grow in the desert. It grows between 930-1,110 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Chwere, Emantulwa, Simbumbu, Umntulu