White puzzle-bush
Ehretia alba

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 4 m high. It loses many leaves during the year. The branches are rigid and spread in all directions. The bark is smooth, dark grey and crumbly. The leaves are simple and usually clustered on short branches. The leaves are narrowly oval and 103 cm long by 1 cm wide. They taper to the base. The flowers are in single heads on short side branches. They are white or pink when older. The fruit is an orange berry. It is round and 4-6 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot and arid places with a marked dry season. The dry season can be 6-11 months. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 1,000-1,800 mm. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

The food is especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bergwitboom, Horotos, Oshadi, Swartbos

Synonyms

Ehretia rigida in part;