Tagart bush
Maerua crassifolia

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows to 10 m high. The trunk is 1.2 m across. The trunk is often stunted and twisted. It has whip like branches which extend upwards. It has very short side shoots which bear leaves in tufts. The leaves are 12-25 mm long. The leaf blade is dark green and limp and leathery. The flowers occur as one or a few on short leafy shoots. The fruit are brown and beaded.

The leaves contain trypsin inhibitors. This means proteins may not be properly digested.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in very dry savannah and desert. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 100-400 mm per year. It is very drought resistant. It grows between 180-1,620 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It can tolerate high temperatures up to 42°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Arabia, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sinai, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Western Sahara, Yemen

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten. They are used fresh or dried. The leaves are used in sauce. They are pounded and eaten.

They are eaten especially by boys.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Agar, Atil, Azar, Dumashio, Dume, Ereng, Jiga, Kalue, Kurmut, Lumi, Maerua, Nur, Sarah, Tuwio

Synonyms

Maerua rigida R. Br.; Maerua hirtella Chiov.; Maerua senegalensis R. Br.; Maerua uguenensis Gilg.; Maerua uniflora Vahl; Maerua de-wailly Aubrev.;