Edible Plants of the World

Grey-leaved saucer-berry, Grey leafed cordia

A tropical plant. It is widespread in Africa at low altitudes and in dry areas. It is more common in dry river beds. It can grow on sandy or salty soils. In Africa it grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall between 600-1,000 mm. It can grow in arid places. It grows on gravelly soils and in wasteland. It is drought hardy. In Pakistan it is found in dry areas up to 300 m above sea level. It grows in the lowlands and often along rivers.

Also known as:

Adome, Andarab, Cambununo, Chinnabotuka, Duva, Edume, Gondani, Gondi, Gondna, Gondri, Gunda, Gundani, Gundi, Habusum ngheghi, Harores, Izera, Kirichalle, Kithea, Kithia, Laghushleshmataka, Lasoodi, Leedii, Ledo, Maded, Madehr, Mader, Madera, Maderra, Maderta, Madheedh, Mafheera raphachoo, Mared, Mareer, Marer, Mdawi, Mdelela, Mkamasi, Mnya, Muthea, Muthee, Muthei-munini, Narrow-leaved sepistan, Naruvili, Ndea, Ol-dorko, Ol-durgo, Ol-olfot, Sellai, Shengolochi, Thanat, Thanut, Turu

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Grey-leaved saucer-berry grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Arabia, Asia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: The fruit are high in Vitamins. There are about 300 Cordia species.

Status: The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are sold in markets.

Growing Grey-leaved saucer-berry, Grey leafed cordia

Cultivation: It can be grown from seed or cuttings. Plants also grow naturally. (There are 14,000 seeds per kg.) When seed are sown fresh no treatment is necessary. For stored seed they should have warm water poured over them then be allowed to soak before being planted. Seed can be stored for 3 months at room temperature. It is best to plant seeds where they are to grow.

Edible Uses: The fruit is eaten green as a vegetable or pickled. They are sweet and sticky. The skin is removed and the seeds are not eaten. They are added to porridge instead of sugar. The roots are eaten raw. The clear gum from the tree is edible. The ripe fruit is eaten raw. The fruit are fermented into beer.

Production: It is a fairly slow growing plant. In India the fruit are available August to February.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit - 16.6 - - - - 8.8

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