Zanzibar suregada, Woodland suregada
Suregada zanzibariensis

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 4.5 m tall. The leaves are oblong and leathery. The tip has a blunt point and they narrow to the base. They are about 4-9 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide. There are widely spaced teeth on the edge of the leaf. The midrib is raised under the leaf and there are 4-6 pairs of veins that loop along the leaf edge. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green and the lower surface is lighter. The leaves are on short stalks. The flowers are small and cream coloured. They are in small clusters opposite the leaves. The fruit are small and round. They have 3 lobes. They are 7 mm across. The juice of the fruit is edible.

There are about 40 Suregada species. They are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on sandy soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The juice of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit juice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cinzamachuere, Djlamunti, Mdimu msitu

Synonyms

Gelonium serratum Pax. & K. Hoffm.;