Soap berry, Dune soap-berry
Deinbollia oblongifolia

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It is often 3-6 m tall but can be 9 m tall. It has deep roots. The trunk can be 30 cm across. The leaves are large and compound. They are crowded at the ends of branches. They are from 15-46 cm long. The leaflets are smooth and thin. They are in about 5-10 pairs. They are 5-13 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. They are oblong but narrow to both ends. The leaflets can vary in shape. The flowers buds are brown and furry. The flowers are white and flask-shaped. The are packed tightly together in small clusters. Male and female flowers can be on separate trees or this can vary with seasons. The fruit are made up of 3 parts. These are grape like and round. The fruit are 1.3 cm across. They are yellow when mature. The fruit are edible. There is a single seed covered with a white material used as a soap substitute.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in coastal open woodland, dune bush and forest. It is damaged by frost. It needs well drained soil and plenty of compost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. The leaves are a famine food.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seed should be collected from fruit starting to dry on the tree. The seed should be cleaned and sown shallowly into the soil in a nursery bed. Seeds germinate in 3-12 weeks. Seedlings are transplanted when the first adult leaf appears.

Seedlings grow slowly at first but more quickly later.

Its other names

Local names

Idololenkau, Igololenkawu, Iphengulula, Kumbuta, Masibele, Muaka, Si'rangelanguva, Tiica-mahcimo, Tirangelangwa

Synonyms

Rhus oblongifolia E. Mey. ex Arn.; Hippobromus oblongifolius (E. Mey.) Drege; Sapindus oblongifolius (E. Mey. ex Arn.) Sond.;