Giant yellow mulberry, Monkeyfruit

A tropical plant. It grows along the edges of rain-forests. It is often near streams and in moist locations. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude but is most common below 300 m.

Also known as:

Ade, Akawa, Akawakawa, Anyankoma, Awaawa, Bohuma, Bokemu, Bokomu, Bongunguna, Bouma, Ciwele, Dintusi, Dintusu, Engakom, Fofoi, Isakama, Kawakawa, Komu,Konde, Liwisa, Mbombo, Mbonzo, Mbonzu, Mbuba, Mdewerere, Mfudza, Mfusa, Mfutsa, Mhunsa, Miamia, Miamiase, Mkonde, Mkwayaga, Muntusu, Ndigo, Ngata, Ntusu, Ofuma, Okoka, Ongo, Ongunguna, Shesisi, Ujuju, Umufe, Unhana

Edible Portion

Nuts, Seeds, Leaves, Fruit, Juice, Vegetable

Where does Giant yellow mulberry grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

Notes: There are 7 Myrianthus species. They grow in tropical Africa. It provides food during the hungry period before other new crops are harvested.

Status: It is the most popular indigenous vegetable in some regions. Leaves are sold in local markets. The fruit are popular.

Growing Giant yellow mulberry, Monkeyfruit

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seeds take about 1 month to germinate. Soaking seeds helps more to germinate. Plants can be grown from cuttings and by grafting. Plants can be budded. Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.

Edible Uses: The ripe fruit have a nice flavoured juice when bitten. They are eaten raw. Young leaves and shoots are eaten in soups. The seeds are eaten after cooking.

Production: Plants from seed can produce fruit in 4-5 years. In some places fruiting is seasonal and in other places it is year round. Leaves can remain fresh for 3-5 days after harvesting. There is a flush of edible leaves during the dry season.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Kernel dried	471	23.6	6.6	-	-	-	13.5
Leaves	-	1.9	1.1	-	-	-	85.5
Leaves	148	8.3	1.6	-	-	0.8	58.1

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