Turkey berry
Canthium ventosum

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can be 3-6 m tall but grows to 15 m tall in the forest. It can be a shrub or creeper. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 2.5-7.5 cm long and 3.8 cm wide. The leaves are green above and paler underneath. The flowers are small and greenish-yellow. They occur in bunches in the axils of leaves. The fruit are oblong and about 1.3 cm long. They have 2 lobes and 2 seeds. They are green and become purple or black when ripe. They are edible. Possibly now Olinia ventosa

There are about 200 Canthium species. Canthium ventosum (L.) S. Moore is an unresolved name and Canthium ventosum Kuntze is a synonym of Canthium inerme (L.f.) Kuntze.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest along the coast.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Plectronia ventosa L.; Canthium thunbergianum Cham. & Schlechtd.; Canthium inerme (L.f.) Kuntze;