Hippobromus pauciflorus
(L.f.) Radlk.
Horsewood
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Andrew Gillespie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Gillespie
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Craig Peter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Craig Peter
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ricky Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ricky Taylor
Description
A small to medium sized tree. It is usually 3-9 m tall and slender. The trunk is 15-20 cm across. The leaves are alternate and compound. There are 3-6 pairs of leaflets. These are oval and 0.8-5 cm long and almost opposite. The midrib is winged. They are usually unequal-sided and narrow to the base. The flowers are small and yellow. They are in short velvety panicles in the axils of leaves. The fruit is round and the size of a pea. The seed is black.
Edible Uses
Leaves or fruit are beaten in water to create a froth that is eaten by children.
Traditional Uses
The fruit is not edible but when the leaves or fruit are beaten in water they make a froth which is eaten by children. It can cause vomiting. CAUTION: It could be poisonous.
Known Hazards
The froth can cause vomiting and the plant could be poisonous.
Distribution
It is a subtropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude in South Africa.
Where It Grows
Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland,
Synonyms
Also Known As
Basterperdepis, Ulwathile, Umfazi-onoxolo
References (4)
- Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 539
- Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 2. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 1387
- Shava, S., 2000, The Use of Indigenous Plants as Food by a Rural Community in the Eastern Cape: an Educational Exploration. Masters Thesis Rhodes University. p 65
- Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
