Spanish tamarind, Smooth wild-medlar
Vangueria madagascariensis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It often has several stems. It can grow to 15 m high. The bark is pale grey and fairly smooth. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are pale green and attractive. They are oval and 8-20 cm long by 12 cm wide and rounded at the base. They are shiny and limp. Leaf stalks are up to 1 cm long. There are leaf stipules on the young shoots. The flowers are greenish white in clusters in the axils of leaves. These are 8 cm long. The flowers are yellow green and 8 mm long. They are small and few. The petals are pale green. Fruit are round, smooth and green with white dots. They are about 4-5 cm across. Often fruit are in bunches of 5-6. Fruit contain 4 or more seeds. The seeds are 1-2 cm long. The fruit are edible.

The fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. They suit a range of soil types. They have good drought tolerance. It grows in scrub and on the edges of forests. The grow naturally in dry forest edges. They grow from sea level to 2,130 m altitude. It grows in areas with rainfall from 600 to 1200 mm annually. Temperatures are in the range 17°C to 29°C. The plant needs to be in an open sunny position. It can re-grow after fire. It cannot tolerate frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Congo R, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guinea, Guinée, Haiti, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar (country/location of origin), Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Martinique, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pacific, Puerto Rico, Reunion, SE Asia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit can be eaten raw or stewed. Unripe fruit have a texture like an apple and very ripe shrivelled fruit taste like tamarind. The fruit are especially enjoyed by children.

Fruit are sold in markets in Africa. The fruit are eaten especially by children. The fruit are popular. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed or cuttings. Seed can be sown direct or in pots then transplanted. Soaking seed in cold water overnight may help germination. Trees can be cut back and re-grow.

Trees grow rapidly. Because the fruit persist on the tree fruit need to be picked. Plants flower between October and January. It takes about 6-8 months from flower fertilisation to fruit ripening.

Its other names

Local names

Bergel, Bururi, Dimbliksha, Engumi, Erakwtu, Gara, Ikormosiyoi, Kamolwet, Kanoy, Katkara tenga, Kikomoa, Kikomua, Kirkir, Knoy, Komol, Komolwo, Loshoro, Mdaria, Mesho, Moyen, Msada, Msambalawe, Mubiru, Mudhukanta, Muhilu, Mukomoa, Mulande-nu-kue, Mviru, Ngoromosui, Odeyo, Ol-gumei, Surangaro, Tamarind of the Indies, Tamarindo, Voa-vanga

Synonyms

Canthium edule (Vahl) Baill.; Canthium maleolens Chiov.; Dondisia foetida Hassk.; Vangueria acutiloba Robyns; Vangueria commersonii Jacq.; Vangueria cymosa C. F. Gaertn.; Vangueria edulis Lam. [Illegitimate]; Vangueria edulis Vahl; Vangueria floribunda Robyns; Vangueria macrophylla Wall.; Vangueria robynsii Tennant; Vavanga chinensis Rohr.; Vavanga edulis Vahl;