Polysphaeria multiflora
Hiern
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) amouly, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ehoarn Bidault, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-10 m high. The leaves are narrowly oval and the base is rounded or wedge shaped. They are 3-13 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are white and in dense clusters. The fruit are round and 7-9 mm across. They are carried in clusters. They are white, red or black.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. The globose fruit is 7 - 9mm in diameter. Although small, it is carried in clusters on the plant, making harvesting easier.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten fresh as a snack.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. In Kenya it mostly grows from sea level to 250 m above sea level but can be up to 1,150 m.
Where It Grows
Africa, Comoros, East Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania,
Production
Fruit are collected from April to June.
Also Known As
Mgudi, Msamisami, Mubuna, Mumanga, Muroro, Nogola
References (4)
- Kenya Trees, Shrubs, Lianas, 1994, nzdl.org
- Mutie, F. M., et al, 2023, Important Medicinal and Food Taxa (Orders and Families) in Kenya, Based on Three Quantitative Approaches. Plants 2023, 12, 1145
- Ruffo, C. K., Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B., 2002, Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania. RELMA p 536
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
