Woodland dogplum
Ekebergia benguelensis

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It loses many leaves during the year. It grows 9 m tall. The bark is dark grey and rough. The leaves are alternate and have leaflets along the stalk. There are 3 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are in compound groups in the axils of leaves. They are greenish-white and 1 cm across. The fruit is a green berry. It is about 2 cm across. There are 2-4 seeds.

There are 3 Ekebergia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry woodland. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. Seeds can be stored for at least a year.

Its other names

Local names

Belele-ngombe, Kiringe, Mabere ya ng'ombe, Matekenya, Mkokota, Mleko, Moloa, Mudyamhofu, Mudyavarungu, Munyimonyimo, Mupumhanhuka, Mupuri, Myutumuko, Mziru, Sirita

Synonyms

Ekebergia arborea Bak.f.; Ekerbergia discolor O. Hoffm.; Ekerbergia fruticosa C. DC.; Ekebergia nana Harms; Ekebergia sclerophylla Harms; Ekebergia velutina Dunkley; Ekerbergia welwitschii Hiern. ex C. DC.;