Trichilia capitata
Family: Meliaceae
What it is like
A shrub or tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 3-15 m tall. The leaves are compound with 4-6 pairs of opposite leaflets. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. The leaves are hairy. The leaflets are 11.5 cm long by 5 cm wide. The flowers are in dense groups in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 3-4 mm long and white. The fruit is a capsule about 1.5 cm across. It is round. The seeds are dull dark red. They have an orange fleshy layer around them.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows along streams and sometimes on termite mounds. It grows at low altitude. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Chicara, Sinzaxeule, Tondua