Winged bersama
Bersama abyssinica

Family: Melianthaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 22 m high. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-10 pairs of leaflets and one at the end. The central stalk has wings. It can flower when only 3 m high. The flowers are in spike like groups. They are green to cream. The flowers have a scent. There are some subspecies. The fruit is a round velvety capsule. It splits into 4 valves. The seeds are bright red.

There are 7 Bersama species. Also put in the family Francoaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows near the edges of forests. It can grow in arid places. In Nigeria it is recorded up to 1,500 m above sea level

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The roots are poisonous and can kill. The fruit and leaves also contain poisonous compounds. The leaves are used as a flavouring in relishes and chutneys.

They are a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Azamir, Boto, Chereke, Chiwindu, Duantu, Kofo, Mkanga, Muchiquiri, Munyahawa, Mushekera, Nakatimba, Ngoisiki, Nkanga, Samangya

Synonyms

Bersama coriacea Baker f.; and several others