Confetti tree

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 2400 m altitude in South Africa. It is common in open woodland. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 2,100 m altitude. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 200-1,500 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.

Also known as:

Akwichanian, Baikai, Bharkad, Boukhlal, Chichangua, Chivhunabadza, Chizhuzhu, Ekaburu, Guiel-gotel, Gwengweni, Isihlangu, Kakra, Kankera, Khatai, Koshikosh, Kumakuafo, Lele, Ligoga, Maytenus, Mdunga-ndewe, Mpabulu, Mpakula, Mpelu, Mugaranjiva, Muiua, Mukokoba, Musosaguva, Musosawafa, Musukameno, Mutotova, Ngege, Nyenyele, Red spike-thorn, Tahogomou, Tisha

Synonyms

Celastrus senegalensis Lam.

Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.

Gymnospora montana (Roth) Benth.

Catha europea, Catha montana Roth

Edible Portion

Seeds, Roots, Fruit, Flowers, Leaves - flavouring, Vegetable

Where does Confetti tree grow?

Found in: Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mediterranean, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Rwanda, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Spain, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 200 Maytenus species. It has anticancer properties.

Growing Confetti tree

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds.

Edible Uses: The wood and leaves are reduced to ash and used as a vegetable salt. The fruit is eaten raw. The seed coat is removed before the seeds are eaten. The roots are cooked and eaten with meat broth. The leaves and flowers are eaten in soup. They are boiled in water and the water changed then cooked as a vegetable.

Production: Plants grow fairly quickly.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
	-	-	-	-	-	-

References

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 7th April 2011]

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