Vangueria apiculata

Vangueria apiculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is found from Ethiopia to South Tropical Africa.

Description

A shrub which loses its leaves during the year. It grows 1.5 to 10 m tall. The bark is smooth and grey-brown. The leaves are thin and papery without hairs. The are oval with a pointed tip. They are about 13 cm long by 6 cm wide. There are 7-11 main veins on each side of the midrib. The network of veins can be seen underneath the leaf. The leaf stalk is 7 mm long. The flowers grow beside the leaves. They are greenish-white and in much branched bunches. The flowers are like tiny tubes. The fruit is green but becomes yellow brown when ripe. The fruit is round and 17-20 mm long. The fruit is edible.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw as a snack, with the seeds discarded.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw as a snack. The seeds are discarded.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are used to cure stomach-ache. The roots are boiled and the decoction is used three times a day to rid the body of intestinal worms.

Distribution

A tropical species. It grows in evergreen forest. It often occurs on termite mounds and on rocky ground. It grows in open forest, secondary scrub and cultivated land. In Kenya it grows between 900-2,500 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed is sown directly where the plants are to grow. Plants can be grown in pots then transplanted. It may be useful to soak seeds overnight in cold water. Seed should be sown as soon as they are separated from the fruit. Plants can be topped or cut back and allowed to regrow.

Other Uses

The wood is hard, tough and heavy. It is used for poles, pegs and tool handles. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal. The tree is important in agroforestry. (No more information is given)

Production

Fruit are collected in the dry season. They are harvested by climbing the tree.

Other Information

It is a useful backyard fruit tree.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adenogonye, Amatungunga, Amalera, Aruwano, Elepulepu, Emaler, Emalere, Engumi, Engumieker, Esilepulepu, Garo, Ghallat al merissa, Gurmase, Hawa, Ilgum, Jooc, Kalepulepu, Kaworo, Kikomoa, Kimolwet, Kivireo, Kiviroe, Kukukomosi, Lkoromosei, Magugunwa, Matungunda, Mdawa, Mdowo, Mgugunwa, Mkondikondo, Msambalawe, Mseka, Mukomoa, Muvuma, Mviru, Ndawiro, Ol-gumi, Omorokodo, Polere, Shikhomoli, Taparper, Tapirpirwa, Timpliqisha, Umukoondokoondo

References (41)

• Acipa, A. et al, 2013, Nutritional Profile of some Selected Food Plants of Otwal and Ngai Counties, Oyam District, Northern Uganda. African Journal or Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2)
• Agea, J. G., et al 2011, Wild and Semi-wild Food Plants of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of Uganda: etc. Environmental Research Journal 5(2) 74-86
• Awas, T., 1997, A Study on the Ecology and Ethnobotany of Non-cultivated Food Plants and Wild Relatives of Cultivated crops in Gambella Region, Southwestern Ethiopia. Addis Ababa University. p 64
• Awodoyin, R.O., Olubode, O.S., Ogbu, J.U., Balogun, R.B., Nwawuisi, J.U. and Orji, K.O., 2015, Indigenous Fruit Trees of Tropical Africa: Status, Opportunity for Development and Biodiversity Management. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 31-41
• Balemie, K., & Kebebew, F., 2006, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Derashe and Kucha Districts, South Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 2:53

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