Gardenia erubescens
Stapf et Hutch.
Female gardenia
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Summary
Source: WikipediaGardenia erubescens is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rubiaceae. It has edible fruits and occurs in the Guinea and Sudan savannah vegetation of West and Central Africa.
Description
A shrub. It grows 1-2 m high. It branches from near the base. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is pale yellow. Young shoots have a grey covering. The leaves are in rings of 3 at the ends of shoots. They are 12 cm long by 10 cm wide. They vary in shape. The flowers occur singly and are white to yellow. They have a scent. The tube of the flower is 5 cm long. The fruit are 3-5 cm long and oval but slightly bent. They are pale yellow when ripe.
Edible Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw and used in sauces and soups; the leaves and flowers are also edible portions.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for sauces and soups.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
In parts of Northern Nigeria, a decoction of the species is used to treat a variety of health issues including gonorrhea, ascites and loss of appetite, extracts are also used as an aphrodisiac and stimulant. Its edible fruit are consumed by locals.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in savannah and savannah woodland. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places.
Where It Grows
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Mali, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa,
Other Uses
The seeds are used in a black cosmetic. A black dye obtained from the seed is used as a cosmetic. The yellow wood is hard and compact, and tough. It is used for carpentry and small carvings, such as spoons.
Other Information
The fruit is not popular. Fruit tend to be available in the drier more hungry season.
Notes
There are about 200 Gardenia species.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 19.2 | — | — | 5.7 | — | — | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Baa, Boeli, Bu kookay ba nale, Dingale debbi, Gaude, Ishondou, Kingerr, M'boure mousso, Munameni, Shoondugh, Yirudia
References (29)
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- Atato, A.,et al, 2011, Edible Wild Fruit Highly Consumed during Food Shortage Period in Togo: State of Knowledge and Conservation Status. Journal of Life Sciences 5 (2011) 1046-1057
- Batawila, K., et al, 2007, Diversite et gestion des legumes de cueillete au Togo. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 7( 3& 4): 67
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