Ziziphus zeyheriana
Sond.
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(c) Richard Gill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Richard Gill
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Bart Wursten, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A small shrub. It grows 60 cm high. It has annual stems from a creeping rhizome or underground stem. The small branches are hairy. The leaf blade is oval and 2-5 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The fruit are 7 mm across. They are round and have 2 seeds. The seeds are 5 mm by 5 mm.
Edible Uses
The kernels are used for porridge and as a coffee substitute. The fruit are eaten as a snack.
Traditional Uses
The kernels are used for porridge and also as a coffee substitute. The fruit are eaten as a snack.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It is often on termite mounds. It grows in grassland and woodland between 1,250-1,500 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Botswana, East Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe,
Synonyms
Also Known As
Mothalo fasane
References (5)
- Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 315
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 169
- Mashile, S. P., et al, 2019, Indigenous fruit plants species of the Mapulana of Ehlanzeni district in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 180–183
- Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 94
- Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179
