Common Name: Spanish Tamarind

General Information

Vangueria madagascariensis is a profusely branched evergreen shrub, or small tree growing from 2 - 15 metres tall[].
A popular wild fruit, it is commonly harvested from the wild and sometimes also protected when land is cleared for cultivation. The plant is cultivated for its fruits in several places in tropical Africa, as well as in India, Singapore, China, N Australia and Trinidad[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria, also Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zanzibar, and Madagascar.

Habitat

Savannah woodland and galleried forest[]. Dry areas at low elevations[]. Riverine bushland, bushland, evergreen forest, bushed grassland, sometimes on rocky outcrops and termite mounds, at elevations from sea level to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 29°c, but can tolerate 12 - 34°c[]. Plants are intolerant of frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,500mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in volcanic ash soils; light yellowish-brown to reddish-yellow, gritty, sandy clay loams and red to dark red friable clays with lateritic horizon[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[].
The species is fire sensitive[].
The flowers have an awful aroma[].
The plant can be coppiced and pollarded[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, made into drinks[]. An aromatic, subacid flavour[]. The brown pulp has a sweet, acid flavour[]. A pleasant chocolate-like flavour[, ]. Tastes like apples[]. The fruits must be eaten when overripe[]. The globose, yellowish-brown fruit is 20 - 45mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

Roots and bark are used in traditional medicine; for example, in Tanzania an extract from the roots is used to treat intestinal worm infections[, ].

An infusion of the bark is used in treating malaria[].

Other Uses

The wood is suitable for building construction, tool handles and carving[].
It is popular as a source of both firewood and charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed germination is difficult owing to the hard seed coat[]. Nicking the seed or soaking it in cold water overnight may hasten germination[]. Untreated seed germinates well but sporadically, taking up to 6 weeks[].
Seed can retain its viability for a year if dried properly[]. There are 500-600 seeds/kg[].

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