Pavetta schumanniana

F. Hoffm. ex K. Schum.

Poison pavetta

Rubiaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves - moisture, Caution Potential hazards — see below 144 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Pavetta schumanniana, the poison bride's bush, is a species of plant described by F.Hoffm. and Karl Moritz Schumann. Pavetta schumanniana is part of the genus Pavetta and the family Rubiaceae. No subspecies are listed in the Catalog of Life.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-5 m tall. The young branches are hairy. The leaves are in pairs. They are at the ends of branches. The leaf blade is 6-20 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They are broadly sword shaped. They have a grey covering underneath. The flower cluster is at the ends of branches or on very short side branches. The fruit are black and 5-7 mm across. They are shiny. The seeds are dark grey and 5 mm wide. The plant varies.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible. The leaves are chewed for their moisture content.

Traditional Uses

Caution: The leaves are poisonous. The leaves are chewed for their moisture.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The leaves are poisonous.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mixed woodland and grassland. It is often on rocky hillsides and on termite mounds. It grows between 350-1,825 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Also Known As

Chifukawi, Chinama, Chipindura chiduku, Citapa-tapa, Kabwiye, Kitapatapa, Mufuramhembwe, Murabagaka, Musauti, Mutemwa, Muwana, Mwenje, Poison brides-bush, Tshituku, Umbodzani, Urukoyokoyo

References (9)

Cunningham, 1985,
Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 57
Magwede, K., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Wyk, A. E., 2019, An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 57–89
Malaisse, F., 1997, Se nourrir en floret claire africaine. Approche ecologique et nutritionnelle. CTA., p 67

Show all 9 references

Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 173
Roodt, V., 1998, Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta. Medicinal Uses and Nutritional value. The Shell Field Guide Series: Part 1. Shell Botswana. p 197
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
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011