Vangueria burnettii

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-5 m tall. The branches are slender. There are pale rusty hairs in young parts. The bark is purple-brown and grooved. The leaves are in opposite pairs. The leaf blade are oval and 9 cm long. The leaves are green with some rusty hairs above and pale rusty hairs underneath. The flowers are pale green to yellow. They have a slender tube 1 cm long. The fruit is a rounded verry. It is 1-3 cm across. There are 2-5 reddish brown seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Tanzania it grows between 1,200-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Tanzania, Zambia

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can ge grown from seeds.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from October to April.

Its other names

Local names

Findokoli, Kambolambola, Kindokoli, Nkobeliya

Synonyms

Tapiphyllum burnettii Tennant;