Ximenia caffra

Description

A shrub or small tree It grows to 8 m tall. It has many spines. Young stems can be very hairy. The bark is grey or brown. It is smooth at first but then becomes rough and cracked along its length. The young twigs are covered with fine red hairs. The leaves are simple and alternate. They vary in shape. They are 2.5-6 cm long and 2 cm wide. They are densely hairy at first. They become shiny green and smooth with age. The leaves narrow to the base and are on short leaf stalks. The lower leaf surface is more pale than the upper surface. The leaves tend to fold inwards. The flowers develop as long green buds in the axils of the leaves. These open to 4 petalled green, hairy flowers. The flowers are either on their own or in a bunch from the same point. They are small and white. They have a sweet scent and are 1.3 cm long. The fruit are oval and 2.5-3 cm long. They are greenish when young and become bright red when ripe. They are edible. The contain one woody seed. (The large leaves, fewer spines, more solitary flowers and red fruit help distinguish this plant from the variety americana.)

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh, dried, or used for jelly, marmalade, drinks, and porridge; the flavor is best when over-ripe. The seeds are also eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten ripe either raw and fresh or dried. The flavour is best when the fruit are over-ripe. They can be used for jelly and marmalade. They are used for drinks and in porridge. The seeds are eaten.

Medicinal Uses

The roots are used to treat abscesses, stomach aches, colic, malaria, coughs, and bilharzias. They can also be pounded, turned into porridge and eaten to reportedly prevent sterility in women. It is thought that powdered roots can also be added to beer to act as an aphrodisiac. The tree's bark is used as a remedy for syphilis, hookworm, chest pains, and body pain. The seeds are generally roasted and then pounded for their oils to be used for wounds as an ointment. The leaves can be used to soothe inflamed eyes and as a reported cure for tonsillitis. Most of these claims do not appear to have been scientifically validated, and further research is required.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows on rocky woodlands from 5 m to 2,000 m above sea level. It suits dry areas. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or suckers. To collect seed fruit are collected when soft then left to dry in the sun before removing the seed. Seed are best sown fresh. Seed germinate quickly and easily. Seed lose their viability after 3 months.

Propagation

Seed - sow in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in a container. It generally germinates easily within 14 - 30 days. Prick the seedlings out into individual containers when the first two true leaves have appeared.

Other Uses

The seed contains up to 65% oil. The roasted seeds are mashed in the mortar yielding a viscous, non-drying oil. The oil is applied to the hair to darken its colour and help straighten it. The oil from the seeds is used for lighting; to soften bowstrings; make cosmetic products locally; and as a general body ointment to soften the skin. The heartwood is reddish brown; the sapwood white. The wood is fine-grained, hard. It is used in general construction and to make tool handles, spoons etc. The wood is used for fuel. The plant is sometimes grown as part of a boundary screen and living fence.

Production

Plants are slow growing. They can be topped or pruned. Plants will regrow when cut back.

Other Information

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Notes

It forms a good fence. There are about 10 Ximenia species. They are tropical.

Nutrition

Also Known As

Amanumbilo, Amasasa, Amathunduluka, Amatimdolubi, Amatu nduluka, Dadzwanombe, Elamai, Emu apple, Groot-suurpruim, Gui, Hinkiketa, Ingigita, Inginkada, Itsengeni, Lama, Ma-aayangu, Masidi, Matshidi, Mat'zenguei, Mepidge, Mhingi, Mnembwe, Mochidi, Morokolo, Morotologa, Motshidi, Motjhidi, Mpheke, Mpigipingi, Mpingi, Mpingipingi, Mtrondwe, Mtundwa, Mtundwi, Mtungwa, Mukalee, Mulebelebe, Mulutulua, Munhengeni, Musanza, Musongosongo, Mutanzwa, Mutengeni, Mutengeno, Mulutulwa, Mutengueni, Mutenguru, Muthanzwa, Mutnegeni, Mutshili, Mutsvanzva, Mutundwa, N'pidji, Natal plum, Nhengeni, Nhundwa, Olemo, Omumbeke, Omuseka, Oshumbyupeke, Pepo, Pingipingi, Seretologakgomo, Tsvanzva, Umkolotshane, Umthunduluka, Umtunduku, Umtunduluka

References (69)

• Addis, G., et al, 2013, Dietary values of wild and semi-wild edible plants in Southern Ethiopia. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2) (Recalculated from dmb)
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Ashagre, M., et al, 2016, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Burji District, Segan Area Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2016) 12:32

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