Vangueria cinerascens

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-3 m tall. The branches are slender. The small branches are covered with rusty hairs. It has a woody rootstock. The leaves are usually in pairs and opposite. They are 8 cm long. They are rough and hairy above and have soft hairs underneath. The flowers are small and pale yellow or green. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. There are about 15 flowers in a group. The fruit are round. They can be yellow to red and 8-9 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland. In Tanzania it grows between 1,100-1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, East Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten as a snack.

The fruit are especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Tanzania the fruit are collected from November to May.

Its other names

Local names

Kambolambola, Kindokoli, Nkobeliya, Sisimpirae

Synonyms

Ancylanthos cinerascens Welw. ex Hiern; Tapiphyllum cinerascens (Welw. ex Hiern) Robyns;