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Coddia rudis

(E. Mey. ex Harv.) Verdc.

Small bone-apple, Lesser thicket-thorn

Rubiaceae Edible: Fruit, Stem - flavouring 811 iNaturalist observations

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(c) Craig Peter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Craig Peter

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shaun Swanepoel

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Craig Peter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Craig Peter

Description

A shrub. It can grow 2.5 m high. It has many branches. Young branches are grey. They often arch over. The leaves are small and shiny. They are in clusters on opposite sides of the stem. They are 2 cm wide and 2.5 cm long. The flowers are small and bell shaped. They are 10-15 mm across. They are white. The fruit are greenish-brown and round. They are 8 mm across.

Edible Uses

The round greenish-brown fruit are eaten as a snack, and the stems are used for flavouring and as a preservative.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten as a snack. The stems are used for flavouring and as a preservative.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests along rivers. It grows from sea level to 1,290 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by seeds. Seeds should be pre-soaked in warm water overnight before planting. Seedlings can be transplanted.

Production

Plants grow quickly.

Synonyms

Randia rudis E. Mey. ex Harv.Xeromphis rudis (E. Mey. ex Harv.) Codd.

Also Known As

Mahlamganisa, Mahlanganisa, Sikhwakhwane, Silulwane, umGogwane, umDondwane

References (3)

  • Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
  • Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 96
  • 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

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