Transvaal saffron
Cassine transvaalensis

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. It can lose many leaves during the year. The stem is thick and straight. The crown is rounded and the branches droop. The bark is pale and smooth but becomes black and breaks into small sections as it becomes older. The leaves are simple and alternate or opposite or in clusters. The are oval to oblong and hard and leathery. They are smooth and shiny and pale green. There can be teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and green or white. They have 3 petals. The fruit is oval and fleshy with a hard shell. They are in clusters in short side twigs. They are pale yellow when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a snack. The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dikulukhazi, Mbule, Monamane, Munamune, Nkuba, Shimapana, Tsebi

Synonyms

Crocoxylon transvaalense (Burtt Davy) N. Robson; Elaeodendron croceum var. heterophyllum Loes.; Elaeodecdron croceum var. triandrum Dinter; Elaeodendron transvaalensis (Burtt Davy) Bredell; Salacia transvaalensis Burtt Davy;