Feretia apodanthera
Delile
Rubiaceae
A variable species, it has been separated into at least three subspecies[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Canthium ellipticum Hochst. ex Delile
Feretia canthioides Hiern
Hypobathrum canthioides (Hiern) Baill.
Hypobathrum ellipticum Baill.,
Pavetta elliptica Hochst.
Common Name:
General Information
Feretia apodanthera is a bushy, deciduous shrub with winding or twisting branches, growing from 2 - 6 metres tall[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and cosmetic.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Mauritania and Senegal to Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Kenya and Tanzania.
Habitat
Savannah bushland and woodland, often riverine[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Bushland, coastal bushland, thickets, often near rivers or on dry hillsides, forest margins, at elevations from sea level to around 1,400 metres[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Often found on clay soils in the wild, and also found in soils subject to seasonal inundation[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The subspecies F. Apodanthera tanzaniensis has larger fruits than subsp keniensis[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
]. The red fleshy pulp of ripe fruit is eaten raw as a snack and, especially by herdsmen and children, are used for quenching hunger and thirst[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
The roasted fruit is used as a substitute for coffee[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. (Should this be the seed?[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
])
The dried leaves are eaten as a vegetable[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Medicinal
A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, syphilis and leprosy[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. An infusion is drunk to treat stomach-ache[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
The powder obtained from pounded roots is used to treat wounds[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
The fruit is crushed with water and used as an antidote to snake bites[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree is used for making live fences[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Other Uses
The fruits are occasionally used as a cosmetic[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Used as a cosmetic face mask[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Combined with indigo (Indigifera spp.), they are used for making markings on the face[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
The whirled branches are used as swizzle sticks for mixing drinks[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
