South African holly, Koko tree
Maytenus undata

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A large shrub or small tree. It grows 8 m high and the trunk is 70 cm around. It does not have spines nor hairs. The leaves are sword shaped or oval. They taper to both ends. They have blunt teeth. The leaves are 10 cm long by 4 cm wide. The flowers are in tufts. The petals are cream or green. The fruit are round and 5 mm across. They are pale yellow.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and mountain savannah areas in west Africa. It grows in dry soils. In Malawi it grows from 750-2,000 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The bark is used for drinks and as a flavouring. The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Bark - flavour, fruit, manna, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are easily grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Cabazinane, Cuzangandonga, Igqwabali, Izorote, Mesosoto, Morogo, Morokgwa, Mpwagili, Mutape, Sibiyabandla, Umbatacwepe, Umkokane, Umkokuza, Umugeendajoro

Synonyms

Maytenus lancifolia (Thonn.) Loes.;