Waxberry, Barley sugar bush
Pollichia campestris
Family: Caryophyllaceae
What it is like
A herb or small shrub. It has many branches. It grows 60 cm tall. The young branches have a white woolly covering. The leaves are grey-green. They are 1-3 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are narrowly sword shaped. The flowers are in groups of 5. The petals are white. The fruit is a capsule 1.3 mm long by 0.7 mm wide. There is usually one seed 0.8 mm long by 0.5 mm wide. The fruit are edible.
Also put in the family Illecebraceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in open bushland on sandy soils. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It grows in deep well-drained soils. It grows from sea level to 1,700 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Arabia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit and flowers are eaten raw. It is the fleshy part of the flower that is eaten.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Flowers, fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Amangabangaba, Chihembelo, Egogong, Guunguma korbeessaa, Letsoai, Manga, Monokotsoai-oa-makhoaba, Nkayakuj, Sefakoana, Tsimo-ea-manyokolo, Ukudla kwambhayi, Umhlungulu, Utywala