White rubber vine
Landolphia owariensis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A large woody creeper or liana. It is a climbing plant. It is very variable. It can grow 20-100 m long. The stem can be 1 m around. Young twigs have rusty hairs. The leaves are thinly leathery. The leaf blade is 8-12 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It is oblong with a short tip. The base is rounded. It is glossy above and mat underneath. The flowers are white or cream coloured and have a sweet scent. The fruit are the size of an orange. They can be 15 cm across. They have a reddish-brown woody shell. The pulp is acid and sweet. The seeds are 10-18 mm long. The plant varies a lot.

It can also be used to extract rubber.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in deciduous and evergreen forests. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 1,440 m above sea level. It quickly regenerates and fruits after fires. In Congo it grows from sea level to 1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to make a drink. They are very acid. They are also eaten raw. They are used for jams and jellies. The fruit are also eaten including the seeds.

Fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Fruiting is seasonal. In Congo the season is July to October. In Central African Republic plants flower in February and fruit in October.

Its other names

Local names

Abuma, Akare, Alibeda, Amedede, Buma, Bweda, Bwela, Cabadjo, Djenjei, Fole-de-elefante, Fole-elefante, Ga, Goki, Huwi, Icha, Itophe, Jenje, Lamude, Lamuque, Lesangu, Lilolo, Lisisa, Liyo, Makonge, Makongue, Makpodu, Malombwa, Mapa, Mawumuna, Menta, Milunda, Mulunda, Mushange, Ndene, Nekala, Ngonde tedye, Ossanigbo, Oyo, Panukuru, Pondi, Utu, Utu npiwa

Synonyms

Landolphia droogmansiana Wildem.; Landolphia gentilii De Wild.; Landolphia glaberrima A. Chev.; Landolphia humilis K. Schum. ex Stapf; Landolphia mayumbensis Good; Landolphia owariensis var. tomentella Stapf; Landolphia pierrei Hua; Landolphia stolzii Busse; Landolphia tomentella (Stapf) A. Chev.; Landolphia turbinata Stapf ex A. Chev.; Pacouria owariensis (P. Beauv.) Hiern.; Vahea owariensis (P. Beauv.) F. Muell.;