Zanha golungensis

Hiern

Smooth-fruited zanha

Sapindaceae Edible: Seeds, Fruit - aril Potential hazards — see below 7 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Zanha golungensis, commonly known as the smooth-fruited zanha, is a species of plant in the family Sapindaceae that is native to Africa. It is used locally for timber and herbal medicine.

Description

A medium to large tree. It grows 10-20 m high. It is spreading. The bark is grey, smooth and flaking. The leaves have 3-7 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are 4-10 cm long by 2.5-4 cm wide. They are glossy light green. They leaf stalk can be 7 cm long. The flowers are small and in short dense heads. These are 2 cm long. The fruit is oval and fleshy. It is 2 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. It is bright orange when mature. Fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The fruit is peeled, the seed discarded, and the sweet fleshy yellow pulp eaten in small quantities. The fruits are mostly eaten by children and herdsmen and are believed to cause severe diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. The yellow-orange, cylindrical fruit is up to 20mm long.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The bark is dried, pounded to a powder and then used as a snuff to treat colds, fevers, headaches and convulsions. A decoction of the roots is used as a remedy for colds, convulsions, impotence, intestinal worms, stomach-ache, constipation, hernia, mental illness, dysentery, fungal infection and for facilitating childbirth.

Known Hazards

The wood of Zanha golungensis is not considered commercially valuable as timber, but is used locally for construction, firewood, and furniture building. Several parts of the plant contain saponins and the bark is sometimes used as a substitute for soap. Some sources claim that the fruits are not eaten by humans, but other accounts from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Togo, and Uganda dispute this. The bark, leaves, roots, and twigs of Z. golungensis are widely used as herbal medicine for a variety of ailments, including aches and pains, fevers, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, respiratory problems, toothaches. Herbal preparations of Z. golungensis are also reported to be used to facilitate childbirth, treat disorders of pregnancy, and as a galactagogue.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows at medium altitudes in open woodland. It can also occur in closed canopy and in evergreen forest. It is often on termite mounds. It can grow in lowland forests.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Other Uses

The stem and root bark contain saponin and are used as a substitute for soap. The fruits contain about 10.5% saponins. They are boiled then used as a soap. The woody stems are used for cleaning the teeth. The bark is used for chew sticks. The wood is hard and heavy[, 398. It carves easily into small articles. It is used for furniture, construction, building poles, pestles, grain mortars, tool handles, bedsteads and spoons. The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal.

Production

In Central African Republic flowers have been recorded in March.

Other Information

The fruit are sometimes eaten.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	77.2	347	83	2.1	—	—	—	—

Also Known As

Kambo, Kuro, Metengame, Mkalia, Mkwidio, Mkwilyo, Murijorjo

References (16)

Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 49
Atato, A., et al, 2010, Diversity of Edible Wild Fruit Tree Species of Togo. Global Science Books.
Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 60

Show all 16 references

Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 334
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 49, 169
JSTOR Global Plants edible
Lovett, J. C. et al, Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania. p 159
Malaisse, F., 1997, Se nourrir en floret claire africaine. Approche ecologique et nutritionnelle. CTA., p 69
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 540
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 181
Schatz, G.E., 2001, Generic Tree Flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden. p 375 (Genus)
Vivien, J., & Faure, J.J., 1996, Fruitiers Sauvages d'Afrique. Especes du Cameroun. CTA p 311
Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 269
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew