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Ancylobothrys pyriformis

Pierre

Apocynaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds

gbif· cc-by-sa

GBIF

gbif· cc-by-sa

GBIF

gbif· cc-by-sa

GBIF

Description

A creeper. It can grow 30 m long and be 32 cm around. The young stems have grey hairs. The leaves are leathery. The leaf blade is 7-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. It tapers to the tip. There can be a few to many flowers in a group. The flowers are white to yellow with a pink tube. The fruit are 12 cm across. They are orange. The seeds are 8-2 mm long.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A somewhat apricot-like flavour. The fruit is a yellow, globose or pear-shaped berry, 7 - 15cm in diameter, containing 4 - 20 relatively large seeds.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in dense forest.

Where It Grows

Africa, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Nigeria, West Africa, Zambia,

Cultivation

Fruits probably take a year from flowering to develop and ripen.

Synonyms

Ancylobotrys robusta PierreLandolphia pyriformis (Pierre) StapfLandolphia robusta (Pierre) StapfPacouria pyriformis (Pierre) PichonPacouria robusta (Pierre) Pichon

Also Known As

Kpase, Limbembe, Tololo

References (6)

  • Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 27
  • Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.
  • Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
  • Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 120
  • Malaisse, F., 1997, Se nourrir en floret claire africaine. Approche ecologique et nutritionnelle. CTA., p 91.
Show all 6 references
  • Mosango M., Szafranski F., 1985, Plantes sauvages à fruits comestibles dans les environs de Kisangani (Zaïre). In: Journal d'agriculture traditionnelle et de botanique appliquée, 32e année, pp. 177-190

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