Tristemma albiflorum

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub up to 1.5 m high. The stems are 4 angled. The leaves are simple and 5-15 cm long. Both sides of the leaf are hairy. The flowers are in a cluster at the end of the branches. The flowers have 5 petals. They are cream, pink or purple. The fruit are 10-18 mm long by 6-14 mm wide. The occur in tight clusters at the ends of branches. There are many tiny seeds inside. The fruit is edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in disturbed rain-forest in wet sites. It can be in palm groves or wet grass savannah.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mbel bongo, Tristemma

Synonyms

Melastoma albiflorum G. Don; Tristemma schumacheri Guill. & Perr.;