Synaptolepis alternifolia

Oliv.

Thymelaeaceae Edible: Fruit, Vegetable 24 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub or woody climber. it can be 10 m tall. The branches are slender and without hairs. The bark is red-brown. The leaves can be alternate or opposite. They are narrow and oval. The leaves are 4.5 cm long. The tip is pointed and the base narrows to the stalk. The flowers are white or pale yellow. They are in flower heads at the ends of the plant. The fruit are yellow to orange. They are oval and 1-2 cm long.

Edible Uses

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten raw as a snack; the seed is discarded. The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Traditional Uses

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten raw as a snack. The seed is discarded.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Roots are chewed and the juice swallowed as a remedy for stomach-ache and snakebite.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows both in the lowlands and the highlands. In Tanzania it grows between sea level to 1,100 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Other Uses

The stems are used for constructing granaries and for withies in house construction.

Production

Fruit are collected during the rainy season.

Other Information

Fruit are especially eaten by children.

Synonyms

Synaptolepis longiflora Gilg

Also Known As

Kiga-nungu, Kukuttjula, Kwavi, Maktu, Mbibikiu, Namulatina, Nzukumbi

References (4)

Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 565
http://www.fao.org/forestry/25323-096344a3de335832e8f363c3ac5184a66.pdf
Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 640
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew