Tricalysia ovalifolia

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-6 m tall. The flowering branches are moderately stout. The leaves are oval and 4-13 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. They are more pale underneath. The flowers have 5 parts. The fruit are round and 5-8 mm long by 5-9 mm wide. They are black when ripe. There are 3-7 seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in scrub and on sandy soils. It grows from sea level to 450 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Comores, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania,

Production

In Madagascar it flowers October to January and fruits January to December.

Also Known As

Malainarety, Nofotrakoho, Sani-rambavy, Taindahitsy, Taolankena, Tsimahamasa-sokina, Valanira

References (2)

• East African Herbarium records, 1981,
• Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 176

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