Vangueria discolor

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 4 m high. There can be several stems from one root. The stems have rusty coloured hairs. The leaves are in pairs or rings of three. The leaves are 3-11 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowers are in dense short flat topped groups. They are 1.5-2.5 cm long. The fruit are yellow. They are 10-13 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open woodland. It grows between 1,100-1,250 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Tanzania, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can re-grow from the rootstock after burning.

Its other names

Local names

Kambolambola, Kindokoli, Kitokoli

Synonyms

Fadogia discolor De Wild.; Tapiphyllum confertiflorum Robyns; Tapiphyllum discolor (De Wild.) Robyns; Tapiphyllum fadogia Bullock; Tapiphyllum grandiflorum Bullock; Tapiphyllum herbaceum Robyns; Tapiphyllum oblongifolium Robyns;