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Morinda morindoides

(Baker) Milne-Redh.

Brimstone

Rubiaceae Edible: Leaves - tea, Fruit 11 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) salvator, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) John P, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) John P, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Description

A woody creeper or shrub in the Rubiaceae family, capable of reaching 10 m tall, found on the edges of forests and woodlands, often near tropical coasts. The plant produces both edible leaves and fruit.

Edible Uses

The leaves are cooked and used as a substitute for tea, and the fruit are eaten fresh.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and used as a substitute for tea. The fruit are eaten fresh.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Used traditionally as medicine with anti-oxidant properties and flavonoid content.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests and woodland. It is often near the coast.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, West Africa,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Other Uses

The leaves and roots contain anthraquinone compounds used for red colouring.

Production

In Central African Republic flowers have been recorded January to March.

Notes

It is used as medicine. It has anti-oxidant properties and flavonoids.

Synonyms

Gaetnera morindoides BakerMorinda confusa Hutch.

Also Known As

Bink, Binnekaba, Bulinge, Kodudu, Kongobololo, Kumbololo, Manar bale, Mangala, Meso-nkama, Nkongobololo, N'tchetekamna-lankolo

References (6)

  • Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Vol 4
  • Latham, P., 2004, Useful Plants of Bas-Congo province. Salvation Army & DFID p 196
  • Lautenschläger, T., et al, 2018, First large-scale ethnobotanical survey in the province of Uíge, northern Angola. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:51
  • Nyadanu, D., et al, 2015, Agro-biodiversity and challenges of on-farm conservation: the case of plant genetic resources of neglected and underutilized crop species in Ghana. Genet. Resourc. Crop Evol. 62(7):
  • Termote, C., et al, 2011, Eating from the wild: Turumbu, Mbole and Bali traditional knowledge of non-cultivated edible plants, District Tshopo, DRCongo, Gen Resourc Crop Evol. 58:585-618
Show all 6 references
  • World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

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