Dobera roxburghii
Planch.
Description
A large tree. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. It grows 5-15 m tall. The leaves are opposite. They are oval to round and 2-9 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The flowers are small and greenish-white. The fruit is oval and 1-2 cm long by 7-10 mm across. The seeds are dark and oval. They are 9-11 mm long by 6-7 mm wide.
Edible Uses
The fruit pulp is eaten fresh. The seeds are boiled multiple times with water changes to reduce bitterness, then sun-dried and ground into flour for porridge or flatbread, or cooked whole with oil and salt. The leaves are also edible.
Traditional Uses
The pulp of the fruit is eaten. The seeds are eaten after boiling 4 times with changes of water to remove the bitterness. They are then sun-dried and ground into flour for porridge or flat bread. The whole seeds are cooked and eaten with oil and salt.
Known Hazards
Seeds contain bitterness that must be removed by boiling with multiple water changes before consumption.
Distribution
A tropical plant. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 810 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Asia, India, Kenya, Middle East, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen,
Notes
There are 2 Dobera species. Chemical composition (undebittered): Protein (crude) = 19.0% (dry). Oil = 0.5% (dry). Ash = 6.4% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 2.6% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): starch = 55.7%(dry); (sugars): sucrose = 5.1% (dry). D-glucose = 3.0% (dry). D- fructose = 00.4% (dry). Amino acid (g [16g N ]-1): Aspartic acid = 9.2g. Threonine = 2.7g. Serine = 2.9g. Glutamic acid = 10.1g. Proline = 4.9g. Glycine = 3.6g. Alanine = 4.2g. Cysteine = 1.5g (performic acid oxidation). Methionine = 2.2g. (performic acid oxidation). Isoleucine = 3.2g. Leucine = 6.0g. Tyrosine = 2.8g. Phenylalanine = 4.1g. Histidine = 1.3g. Lysine = 3.4g. Arginine = 5.4g. Sulphur = 0.98% (dry). Potassium = 0.18% (dry). Magnesium = 0.47%(dry). Calcium = 0.53% (dry). Na = 0.02% (dry). K = 1.28% (dry). Zinc = 33 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 382 mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 334 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 2 mg/kg-1 (dry).
Synonyms
Also Known As
Dober, Maikah
References (6)
- ABDELMUTI,
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 280
- Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A., and Seberg, O. 2007, Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. p 290
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 218
- NOUR & HARPER,
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Salih, O. M., Nour, A. M. and Harper, D. A., 1991, Chemical and nutritional composition of two famine food sources use in the Sudan, mukhiet (Boscia senegalensis) and maikah (Dobera roxburghii) J. Sci Food Agric. 57:367-377
