Diamond-leaved euclea
A tropical plant. It grows in open woodland. It grows in dry, hot areas below 900 m altitude in South Africa. It grows up to 2,400 m altitude in East Africa. It can grow in arid places. It grows in areas with mean annual temperatures of 17°C and rainfall of 700 mm.
Also known as:
Achondradoho, Dangula, Dedeho, Indlelanyamatane-lebovu, Iwaruka, Kanho-kanho, Magic gwarri, Maqayita, Mawbulawe, Mdaa, Mdala, Measka, Mi'eessaa, Mkenye, Motlhakola, Mthlakula, Mubhununu, Mudziviriratsuro, Mugurameno, Mukinyai, Mukuthi, Mungunya, Munyenya, Mushangura, Musikizi, Nginyai, Nhlangula, Nhleta nyamazana, Ounsi, Sijelele, Umhlangula, Umtshekesane, Unsi
Synonyms
- Embelia oleifolia S. Moore
- Euclea huillensis Gurke
- Euclea katangensis De Willd.
- Euclea lanceolata Hiern
- Euclea keniensis R. E. Fr.
Edible Portion
- Fruit, Leaves
Where does Diamond-leaved euclea grow?
Found in: Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Status: It is a famine food.
Growing Diamond-leaved euclea
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds or suckers. Seeds need to be planted fresh. They grow easily. They only stay viable for 2 months.
Edible Uses: The fruit are occasionally eaten. They have a small amount of sweet edible pulp. They can be used for drinks. They are also used to make beer. CAUTION: The fruit can cause stomach upsets. The leaves are considered an appetiser. They are also burnt to produce plant ash as an edible salt.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portionEdible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fruit | 270 | 3.5 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
References
Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
Ashagre, M., et al, 2016, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Burji District, Segan Area Zone of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2016) 12:32
Assefa, A. & Abebe, T., 2010, Wild Edible Trees and Shrubs in the Semi-arid Lowlands of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Science and Development 1 (1) 2010
Balemie, K., & Kebebew, F., 2006, Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants in Derashe and Kucha Districts, South Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
Cunningham, 1985,
Dharani, N., 2002, Field Guide to common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa. Struik. p 102
Drummond, R. B., 1981, Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe, National Herbarium Salisbury. p 182
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 24
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 186
Gemedo-Dalle, T., et al, 2005, Plant Biodiversity and Ethnobotany of Borana Pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia. Economic Botany 59(1) pp. 43-65
INFOODS:FAO/INFOODS Databases
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 135
Kidane, B., et al, 2014, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Fruit Species used by Maale and Ari Ethnic Communities in South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. Vol. 12, 1546-3465-12-455
Kokwaro, J. O. and Johns. T., Luo Biological Dictionary. p 121
Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
Lulekal, E., et al, 2011, Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity. Afrika Focus - Vol. 24, No 2. pp 71-121
Mannheimer, C. A. & Curtis. B.A. (eds), 2009, Le Roux and Muller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia. Windhoek: Macmillan Education Namibia. p 384
Maroyi, A., 2011, The Gathering and Consumption of Wild Edible Plants in Nhema Communal Area, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 50:6, 506-525
Maroyi, A. & Cheikhyoussef, A., 2017, Traditional knowledge of wild edible fruit in southern Africa: A comparative use patterns in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 16(3): 385-392
Maundu, P. et al, 1999, Traditional Food Plants of Kenya. National Museum of Kenya. 288p
Mbuya, L.P., Msanga, H.P., Ruffo, C.K., Birnie, A & Tengnas, B., 1994, Useful Trees and Shrubs for Tanzania. Regional Soil Conservation Unit. Technical Handbook No 6. p 262
Molla, A., Ethiopian Plant Names. http://www.ethiopic.com/aplants.htm
Msuya, T. S., et al, 2010, Availability, Preference and Consumption of Indigenous Foods in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 49:3, 208-227
Mutie, F. G., 2020, Conservation of Wild Food Plants and Their Potential for Combatting Food Insecurity in Kenya as Exemplified by the Drylands of Kitui County. Plants 2020, 9, 1017
Ojelel, S., et al, 2019, Wild edible plants used by communities in and around selected forest reserves of Teso-Karamoja region, Uganda. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2019) 15:3
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 737
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 3. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 1779
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 106
Plowes, N. J. & Taylor, F. W., 1997, The Processing of Indigenous Fruits and other Wildfoods of Southern Africa. in Smartt, L. & Haq. (Eds) Domestication, Production and Utilization of New Crops. ICUC p 191
Rodin, 1985,
Roodt, V., 1998, Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta. Medicinal Uses and Nutritional value. The Shell Field Guide Series: Part 1. Shell Botswana. p 109
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 16th April 2011]
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 53
Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., & McCleland, W., 2007, Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media p 522
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 151
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 12:99. 1873
van Wyk, B, van Wyk, P, and van Wyk B., 2000, Photographic guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Briza. p 140
Wehmeyer, A. S, 1986, Edible Wild Plants of Southern Africa. Data on the Nutrient Contents of over 300 species
White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. and Chapman, J. D., 2001, Evergreen Forest Flora of Malawi. Kew. p 229
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/treedb/
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011