Ancylobothrys petersiana

(Klotzsch) Pierre

Mbohoya, Mwungo-wungo

Apocynaceae Edible: Fruit 115 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ancylobothrys petersiana grows as a climbing shrub up to 6 metres (20 ft) tall. Its fragrant flowers feature a creamy or white corolla. Fruit is spherical, up to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) in diameter. Vernacular names include "climbing wild apricot". Habitat is woodland and rocky hillsides. A. petersiana is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the Comoros and Madagascar. The fruit contains edible pulp with a sour taste around the many seeds. It can be eaten out of hand or prepared into a sweetened juice, and it is sold in local markets for this purpose.

Description

A climbing shrub. It grows over trees and bushes. It grows 6 m or more high. It has branched tendrils. The young branches are grey or brown. Young branches have rusty hairs. The leaves are hairy and opposite. They are simple and sword shape or oblong with a few hairs on both surfaces. The leaves are leathery. They are more pale underneath. The leaf blade is 5-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowers are 15 mm long and white or cream. They have a sweet scent. The fruit are round and 5 cm across. They are yellow or orange when ripe. The flesh is pulpy. It is edible. They have several seeds in a soft pulp.

Edible Uses

The pulpy fruit flesh is eaten ripe or nearly ripe, with skin removed from unripe fruit but not from ripe fruit. A refreshing drink is made by soaking the fruit in water, squeezing and filtering the juice, sweetening it with sugar, and sometimes freezing it as iced blocks. The fruit are sold in local markets.

Traditional Uses

The pulp of the fruit is edible. It is an attractive fruit. A drink is made by soaking the fruit is water and then squeezing an filtering the juice. This is sweetened with sugar. This is also frozen and eaten as iced blocks. The skin is removed from unripe fruit but not from ripe fruit. The fruit is eaten ripe or nearly ripe.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in dune scrub and on rocky hillsides. In Tanzania it grows between sea level and 400 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from root suckers.

Propagation

Seed - Root suckers.

Other Uses

The stem produces a white latex, which is tapped and used for making balls. The stems are flexible and used for ropes.

Production

Fruit in Tanzania are collected in April to June and then November and December. Fruit can be stored for about 2 weeks.

Other Information

The fruit are attractive. They are sold in local markets.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	81.3	295	71	0.7	—	26.6	1	0.3

Synonyms

Ancylobotrys rotundifolia (Dewevre) PierreLandolphia angustifolia K. Schum. ex Engl.Landolphia monteiroi N. E. Br.Landolphia petersiana (Klotzsch) Hook. f.Landolphia scandens auctt. (sensu E. A. Herb.)Pacouria petersiana (Klotzsch) S. MooreWillughbeia petersiana KlotzschWillughbeia senensis Klotzsch

Also Known As

Kagatta, Macava, Macera, Matutungwa, Mbohoya, Mbooya, Mtoria, Mtowe, Muconja, Muhonga, Muhonga-udide, Mutiele, Mutongazi, Mutungazi, Muzambera, Ndoro, Ntondobonzi, Rava, Vibooya, Vitoja, Vitoria

References (25)

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Cunningham, 1985,
CROSS-UPCOTT (As Landolphia petersiana)
Flora Somalia, 2006, Vol. 3
Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras

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