Wild pear
Dombeya rotundifolia

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A softy hairy tree. It grows up to 9 m tall. It has many branches and loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are large, leathery and rounded with a heart shaped base. The flowers are pink or white and in branched clusters. The flowers usually occur when the tree is without leaves. The fruit are small and dark. They are the size of an olive.

Some Botanists put the Dombeya in the Byttneriaceae and the Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassland in Malawi at 1,500 m altitude. It can grow between 60-2,135 m above sea level. It grows in hot arid places. It can tolerate frost. It often grows over limestone parent material. It can tolerate drought. It can re-grow after fire. It can grow in arid places. Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They have a pleasant acid taste. The flowers are cooked and eaten as a side-dish to which pumpkin leaves are sometimes added.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers, stem

How it is grown

It is easily grown from seeds. Seeds should be sown when fresh and seedlings can be transplanted. It can also be grown from cuttings.

It is fast growing

Its other names

Local names

Chitoque, Chiwalika, Cinga, Curo, Molobare, Muchol'e mupundururo, Mukondotowa, Mupunduru, Musiyasitu, Naduwa, Nchiu, Nhiz Nhliziyo, Nhliziyo, Nhliziyonkhulu, Umbikanyaka, Umukore, Umuwane, Umwane, Umwuwane, Xitou:'e

Synonyms

Dombeya densiflora Planch. ex Harv.;