Peddiea africana

Harvey

Cord tree

Thymelaeaceae Edible: Leaves, Fruit Potential hazards — see below 582 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 6 m high. It has many branches. The bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are 50-90 mm long by 20-30 mm wide. They are narrowly oval and taper to the base. There are 5-10 flowers in a cluster. The flowers are yellowish-green. The fruit are fleshy and black. They are 10-14 mm long by 7-10 mm wide.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten as a snack, and leaves are also consumed.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is eaten as a snack.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The plant contains a skin irritant.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mid altitude and mountain rainforest. It suits humid locations. It also grows in coastal scrub and along rivers. It can grow from sea level to 2,000 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinée, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Notes

There are only a few Peddiea species. It contains a skin irritant.

Synonyms

Peddiea dregei Meisn.Peddiea fischeri Engl.Peddiea harveyi Meisn.

Also Known As

Chiburawaringa, Risutu, Ugcamche

References (8)

Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 85
Kepe, T., 2008, Social Dynamics of the Value of Wild Edible Leaves (Imifino) in a South African Rural Area. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 47:531-558
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 105
White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Chapman, J. D., 2001, Evergreen Forest Flora of Malawi. Kew. p 569

Show all 8 references

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
Wilson, A. L. & Downs, C. T., 2012, Fruit nutritional composition and non-nutritive traits of indigenous South African tree species. South African Journal of Botany. 78:30-36
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011