Berchemia discolor

Description

A tree. It grows 12-18 m tall. It usually loses its leaves during the year. The branches are spreading. The crown is dense and round. The leaves are simple and nearly opposite. They are dark green above and paler underneath. They are 2.5-10 cm long and 8 cm wide. They are oval with pointed tips. The flowers are in small stalked clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are like small pointed plums. They are about 2 cm long. They are yellow or red. They have a sweet yellow pulp and a kernel with 2 seeds. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The sweet yellow fruit pulp is eaten raw or dried, and dried fruit can be stored long-term. The fruit are used to flavor porridge, made into biscuit dough with millet seeds, fermented into alcoholic drinks, or processed into juice, jam, and sweets.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or dry. They are also used to flavour porridge. The dried fruit can be stored. The dried fruit (after the kernel is removed) are pounded with millet seeds and made into a biscuit dough and baked. The fruit are also fermented into an alcoholic drink. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The fruit can be used for juice, jam and sweets.

Medicinal Uses

Not mentioned in available data.

Known Hazards

Phyllogeiton discolor is also used as a dye, fodder, ornamental tree and as herbal medicine to treat several human and animal diseases and ailments. For instance, the Himba people cook the bark against nausea and diarrhoea.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in dry forest. It grows at low altitude in South Africa. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 1,600 m altitude. It is damaged by frost or cold winds. It is drought resistant. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 300-635 mm. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds. It grows in the lowlands and along rivers. It grows in Miombo woodlands.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. The seeds germinate easily. Seedlings can then be transplanted. Seeds can also be sown directly in the field. Plants can also be grown from root suckers.

Propagation

Seed - germination takes some time due to the hard seed coat, it can be sped up by scarifying the seed or immersing it in hot water and then allowing the water to cool for 12 hours. Root suckers.

Other Uses

A resin is obtained from the heartwood. It can be used as a glue. A black dye, popular with basket makers, is produced from the powdered heartwood and the roots. A red dye is obtained from the bark. A whitewash produced from the wood ash is used for painting houses. The heartwood is yellow-brown with a reddish tinge, the sapwood is pale brown. The wood is very hard, heavy and fine grained. It is excellent for making furniture such as tables, chairs and benches and is also used in making poles, pestles and hair combs. The plant can be grown as a windbreak.

Production

Plants grow very slowly. When dry, the fruit can be stored for a long time. Fruit are normally available in the wet season.

Other Information

The fruit are popular. They are sold in markets.

Notes

There are 12 Berchemia species. They are very high in sugar. The Vit C content of the pulp is 65 mg/100g.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Borodoke, Bruin-ivoor, Datcha, Deen, Dheen, Edume, Jajaba, Jejeba, Jejjeba, Kisaaya, Kisanawa, Losy, M'yaxa, Mgandum, Mkulu, Mkuni, Mnago, Mogokgoma, Montsintsila, Motsensela, Mozinzila, Mtaci, Mtata, Muapu, Muchuk, Mugaramhanga, Munhacha, Munie, Munye, Munyii, Munyinyi, Munzinzila, Mutatya, Muthwana, Muwe, Muzingila, Muzinzila, Nhire, Nyahumbu, Nyii, Nyiri, Nzaaya, Nzanawa, Omuye, Ooko, Pau-rosa, Qanantab, Santaiti, Sarikomanga, Tinhirra, Tsiandalana, Umcaga, Umncaga, Umnyi, Umzinzila, Uvuka, Vavanga, Yeyebito

References (73)

• 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
• Alfarhan, A. H., 2005, Flora of Jizan Region. AR 17-7. King andulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). p 259
• 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
• 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

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