Water kusia
Sarcocephalus pobeguinii

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m high. The trunk is 1 m across. The bark is white or pale brown. It has rough cracks. Young shoots are hairy. The leaves are 8-21 cm long by 6-14 cm wide. The flowers are pink or white. They have a sweet smell. The fruit are 8-9 cm across and fleshy. The seeds are about 2 mm long. They are reddish and narrowed at both ends.

Sarcocephalus pobeguinii Pobeg. ex Pellgr. is a synonym of Nauclea pobeguinii (Pobeg. ex Pellgr.) Merr. ex E. M. A. Petit while Sarcocephalus pobeguinii Hua & Pobeg. is an accepted name with Nauclea pobeguinii (Hua ex Pobeg.) Merr. as a synonym. It possibly has some anti-malarial properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest and woodland. It grows by river banks and near lakes and marshes. It grows between 780-1,400 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

It is fairly commonly used in West Africa.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Andingding, Asubo, Badi, Diadabi, Dunduke, Onhon, Sibo, Sujisia

Synonyms

Nauclea pobequinii (Hua ex Pobeg.) Merr.;