Boscia angustifolia

Boscia angustifolia is a shrub or small tree with lanceolate leaves commonly found in the savannah zones of Africa, from Senegal moving eastwards to Sudan. It is part of the Capparaceae family. The plant is also known as the rough-leaved shepherds tree.

Description

A small evergreen tree. It grows to 8-12 m tall. The dark is pale grey. The trunk is fluted. The leaves are alternate or in groups of 2-4. They are oblong and 2-7 cm long by 0.7-2 cm wide. They are leathery. They are dark green above and much paler underneath. The flowers are small and sweet-smelling. They occur in crowded heads near the ends of branches. The fruit is round and 10 mm across. It is yellow and almost black. The seeds are in a sticky pulp. This may now be a synonym of Bosica integrifolia J, St-Hil.

Edible Uses

The leaves, seeds, and bitter fruit are cooked and eaten. The sweet stems provide sugar. The inner bark is used for tea and added to soups or to sweeten milk. The flowers are used as flavorings and in relishes, and the flower buds are pickled in vinegar for use as capers. The roots can be made into tea.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten. The seeds are cooked and eaten. The fruit is bitter but eaten. The stems are sweet and provide sugar. The roots can also be used to make tea. The inner bark is used for tea and added to soups. It is also used to sweeten milk. The flowers are used as flavourings and in relishes. The flower buds are pickled in vinegar and used as capers.

Medicinal Uses

The roots are used in decoctions to treat a variety of bacteria infection and other health issues including diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, chest pain and boil. Its leaves and fruit are used to induce purging and to act as a cholagogue.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in dry type of woodland. It grows in dry sites with rainfall between 200-400 mm per year. It grows in the Sahel. It grows from sea level to 2,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds.

Where It Grows

Africa, Arabia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

A plant of the drier tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, it succeeds at elevations up to 2,100 metres. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 800mm. Tolerates a wide variety of soils, growing on free draining red soils, laterites, or on rocky screes. In Zambia it is a good source of bee forage.

Propagation

Seed. This species is difficult to raise, but direct seeding is recommended for its propagation.

Other Uses

The wood is hard. It is used in carpentry and for making water storage vessels. The wood was formerly converted into charcoal for making gunpowder. Readily establishing itself in adverse conditions, this species has potential for reclaiming degraded sites.

Notes

There are 37 Boscia species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Emejen, Farin-moro, Fula-fulfulde, Inkinza, Kursan, Mpetu, Mudhlakono, Mupama, Musaza, Pulupumpi, Umbalabala, Umgugudu

References (26)

• Assefa, A. & Abebe, T., 2010, Wild Edible Trees and Shrubs in the Semi-arid Lowlands of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Science and Development 1 (1) 2010
• Belem, M., et al, 2017, Strategy of Conservation and Protection of Wild Edible Plants Diversity in Burkina Faso. ANADOLU 27 (2) 2017, 82- 90
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 62
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
• Busson, 1965,

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