Common Name: African Peach

General Information

African peach is a deciduous shrub or tree with an open canopy, usually branching from low down the bole[]. It varies widely in height from around 10 metres up to 30 metres according to soil and moisture conditions[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local use. Much appreciated by the local populace, it is often sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Ghana to Gabon and DR Congo.

Habitat

Dry savannah and thickets[]. A savannah shrub sometimes found in undisturbed fringing forest and closed savannah woodland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees, Butterflies
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants grow in hot tropical climates, where they are found at elevations from sea level to around 200 metres[, ]. They grow best in areas where the mean annual temperature is around 27°c[]. They succeed in a range of moisture conditions from fairly dry savannah to moist forest[], preferring a mean annual rainfall around 2,700mm[].
Plants are tolerant of a range of soils, preferring a position in full sun[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Seedlings commence fruiting when about 5 - 6 years old[].
The flowers are extremely fragrant[].
Plants respond well to coppicing[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The pulp is deep red, watery, sweet with a taste of ripe apple[]. The fruit is said to resemble a strawberry in taste and texture[]. The globose fruit is about 8cm in diameter[].

Flower heads - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

Used in the treatment of diabetes[, ].

The root is febrifuge and tonic[]. It is used in the treatment of fevers, indigestion[].

The fruit is eaten as a cure for coughs[].

The bark and roots of the plant contain more than 1% of an opioid that is clinically identical to the analgesic drug 'tramadol'. It can be extracted in a cost-effective way to provide an economical source of this widely used analgesic[].

Extracts of the plant have exhibited activity against Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus (which are responsible for gastroenteritis in children)[].
The alkaloid strictosamine is obtained from the roots, leaves and stem bark[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A suitable species for planting schemes for conservation and soil stabilization[].
The tree offers shade and acts as a windbreak[]. It is used as a live stake to provide barriers in farms[].
The leaves are used as a mulch[].

Other Uses

Small twigs are used as chewing sticks[].

The bark is a source of tannins[].

A yellow dye is obtained from the roots[].

The heartwood is dark red-brown, hard and moderately heavy[]. The wood is resistant to termites[]. It is used for inlay work[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - usually sown in situ[]. The seed is said to germinate more quickly and reliably if it first passes through the gut of a baboon[, ].
Cuttings of greenwood.
Layering.

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