Zanthoxylum chalybeum
Engl.
Gadda
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Bark, Fruit, Vegetable, Seeds
The aromatic leaves and fruit are used to flavor tea and as a vegetable; they can be pounded, dried, and stored. The bark is also used to make tea and flavor soups.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in dry woodland and on termite mounds. In Kenya it grows from sea level to 1,800 m altitude. It grows on coastal sands and well-drained red clay soils. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 6 m tall. The crown is broad and dense. It has prickly processes on the trunk. The leaves are 6-20 cm long. There are 2-5 leaflets. The leaflet blades are 3-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flower panicle is 9 cm long. It is at the base of new branches. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are about 6 mm across. The seed is black and shiny.
Nutrition Score: 49/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 57 | 275 | 66 | 14 | — | — | — | — |
| Fruit dry | 11 | — | — | 8.5 | — | — | 21.8 | — |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seeds or root suckers. Plants can be cut back and allowed to re-grow.
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.
Medicinal Uses
In parts of Kenya, Uganda and Somalia, a leaf decoction is used for the treatment of diarrhea, throat, stomach and chest pain. The leaves are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed and drunk as tea. Stem bark and root extracts are used in decoctions to treat malaria.
Other Uses
The twigs are used as toothbrushes. The wood is very hard, heavy, elastic and highly durable. It works well, although it is difficult to nail; finishes and polishes well. It has been used for carving, turnery, building poles, bedsteads, spoons, stools, drums, walking sticks etc. The wood makes a good fuel, burning easily.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Zanthoxylum chalybeum is an aromatic deciduous shrub or tree within the family Rutaceae. It is also known as the lemon scented knobwood.
Production
It is slow growing. Leaves are collected during the rainy season and early dry season.
Other Information
It is a popular vegetable.
Names & Synonyms
Cipolo, Cipupa, Dedeho, Hombomuungu, Iguga, Igugu, Ketata, Keta'ata, Kettata, Loisuki, Mdung, Mhunngu, Mjafari, Mkonta, Mkunungu, Mlenda, Mlungulungu, Mukana, Mukenea, Mukundanyoka, Murongo, Oluisuki, Pupwe, Pupwe chulu, Pupwekyulu
References (26)
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