Artabotrys brachypetalus

Benth.

Purple hook-berry, Large hook-berry

Annonaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 122 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A woody climber. It can be a rambling bush or a small wide spreading tree. The young branches are covered with brown hairs. The leaves are oval and 2.5-11 cm long by 2.2-6.6 cm wide. The tips can be blunt, rounded or slightly pointed. It climbs by hooked flower stalks. The flowers are yellow. They occur singly on crooked woody stalks. The fruit has 1-14 segments clustered together. They are about 2.5 cm long and smooth. They look like black figs. They are purple-black and edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or fermented into an alcoholic drink.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw. They are also used for making an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in hot, dry low altitude areas. It occurs along streams. In grows between sea level and 1,140 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

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

Notes

There are about 100 Artabotrys species. They are shrubby climbers in SE Asia.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	82.3	213	—	0.5	—	12.6	0.3	0.3

Also Known As

Groot-haakbessie, Macosso, uMazwenda omnyama, Mudzidzi, Munnamutswu, Umzitsi

References (21)

Bruschi, P., et al, 2014, Traditional use of plants in a rural community of Mozambique and possible links with Miombo degradation and harvesting sustainability. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2014, 10:59
Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 8
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 83
Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 33 (Genus)

Show all 21 references

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