Whip stick afro-loquat
Oxyanthus speciosus

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-8 m high. The bark is smooth and the branches hang over. The leaves are oblong and 16 cm long by 5 cm wide. They are shiny. The flowers are white and in groups in the axils of leaves. They have a scent. The fruit are black and shiny. They are 5 cm long.

There are about 50 Oxyanthus species. They are tropical and subtropical. Subsp. stenocarpus in Zimbabwe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest usually near streams. It suits humid locations. It can be in the lowlands or mountains. In Nigeria it is recorded at 1,830 m above sea level. It grows in gaps exposed to light in the forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The stem is used as a chewstick. The leaves are soaked in palm wine to produce a smell and make it more intoxicating.

Edible parts

Stem, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kinsungu, Kinsungwa

Synonyms

Oxyanthus speciosus subsp. globosus Bridson; Oxyanthus speciosus subsp. speciosus;