The plant is exceedingly closely related to Uvaria caffra[].

Common Name:

General Information

Uvaria scheffleri is a scrambling shrub or small tree, more commonly a climbing shrub, growing 1 - 4 metres tall[].
The edible fruit is often gathered from the wild for local use. The plant is also sometimes cultivated, both for its fruit and as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Kenya, Tanzania.

Habitat

Evergreen thicket, scrub or forest at elevations from 900 - 1,800 metres[]. Rocky hillsides, bushland, thickets and forest edges where the plant is usually found climbing on other plants[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 600 metres[]. The plant grows best in areas where the mean maximum and minimum temperatures are within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 17 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 700 - 1,500mm, tolerating 500 - 2,000mm and growing in areas with a distinct dry season[].
Prefers a fairly sunny position, tolerating dappled shade[]. Tolerates a range of soil types so long as they are well drained[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The fully ripe fruit is sweet with an appealing acid taste[]. The seeds, which are enclosed in pulp, are sucked clean then discarded. The soft outer skin may also be eaten[].

Medicinal

The fruit is used in Tanzania for the treatment of fevers[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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