Protea angolensis

Welw.

Sugarbush, Angola protea, Northern Protea

Proteaceae Edible: Sap, Tips, Nectar 155 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Protea angolensis is also known as the Angolan protea, northern protea or northern sugarbush. In Afrikaans it is known as the noordelijke suikerbos. This is a dwarf, multistemmed shrub or small straggling tree occurring in open wooded grassland and miombo.

Description

A small straggling tree. It grows up to 3 m high. The bark is black and fissured. The leaves are long and oblong. They are 10-16 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. They are light green and taper to both ends. The flower heads are up to 10 cm across. The bracts are pale green and the flowers generally white. Both can be tinged with pink. The fruit is a nut which is hairy.

Edible Uses

Young tips are chewed, especially by children. Nectar-rich flowers are simmered in water to produce a syrup.

Traditional Uses

The young tips are chewed especially by children. The nectar rich flowers are used to produce a syrup by simmering them in water.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in open wooded grassland.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Notes

There are 100-130 Protea species. Variety divaricata in Zimbabwe.

Also Known As

Estimende, Murrualo

References (5)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 189
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 53
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 130
Tredgold, M.H., 1986, Food Plants of Zimbabwe. Mambo Press. p 116
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew