Spike thorn tree
Gymnosporia heterophylla
Family: Celastraceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 1-7 m tall. It can have green spines. Plants are separately male and female.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Agola, Congo DR, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The roots are cooked as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Fruit, roots
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Synonyms
Celastrus heterophyllus Eckl. & Zeyh.; Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson; and several others