Monanthotaxis obovata
(Benth.) P. K. Hoekstra
Northern dwaba-berry, Monkey's fingers
Wikimedia Commons - SAplants
Wikimedia Commons - SAplants
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The ripe red fruit have a tart taste and are eaten fresh, stewed, or made into jams and jellies. The fruit can also be dried and later soaked in water before eating, or fermented into wine. The fruit are sold in local markets.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in open woodland and grassland on termite mounds and along streams. It grows in Miombo woodland. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 500-1,270 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Tanzania it grows between 400-1,200 m above sea level.
Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A shrub. It tends to scramble. It can be a small tree up to 7 m high. It has spreading or drooping branches. The bark is dark grey. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are oval and 4.5-7.4 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. The tip is usually rounded and the base can be rounded or notched. They are papery and bluish-green above and paler underneath. There are usually hairs underneath. They are on short leaf stalks. The flowers usually occur singly above the leaf axil. There are leaf like bracts below the flower. Flowers contain both sexes. The petals are in two layers and the inner ones curl over the centre. They are cream. The fruit are 3-9 sausage like fruit in a string. The fruit hangs downwards. It is made up of 3-9 segments bunched together. They are 5 cm long and constricted between the seeds. These contain 1-3 seeds which are crimson when ripe. The seeds are edible. They are bright red. The fruit are edible.
How to Grow
The plants can be grown from fresh seed. The hard seed coat needs to be cracked before planting.
Medicinal Uses
No medicinal uses documented.
Production
In Tanzania fruit are collected from April to June.
Other Information
The fruit are enjoyed. The fruit are sold in local markets.
Names & Synonyms
Bastard dwaba berry, Kanjengunjenga, Kombe, Kyangemuleya, Mchinga, Mechingia, Mfulafula, Milungalunga, Mkatamu, Monkey fingers, Msalasi, Muchinga, Mukondekonde, Munyani, Musalasi, Mushinga, Najako, Nayako, Nsalasi, Umkonzombo, Umkozombo
References (27)
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