Peeling-bark ochna, Peeling plane

A tropical plant. It grows in open bushland. It is often on sandy soil. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,000-1,560 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.

Also known as:

Iminyelenyele, Imwima, Kabanga, Kafuco, Kajubule, Kera, Lekkerbreek, Mermaid tree, Monyelenyele, Muchedza, Muchoa, Mufuka, Mumbinu, Mumhinu, Munino, Muninu, Munjerinjere, Munyelenyele, Munzeramanga, Munzerenanga, Muparamhosva, Muparamhoswa, Muparamoswa, Muparamota, Murezere-nange, Murombe, Musonzoa, Musvodzabveni, Muswe, Mutswatswari, Muvezeramhanga, Muzwe, Njwe, Nyelenyele, Nzololo, Tee, Umnyelenyele, Wamcana

Synonyms

Ochna rehmanii Szyszyl.

Ochna achersoniana Schinz.

Ochna antunesii Engl. & Gilg.

Ochna pulchra forma integra Suesseng.

Ochna fuscescens Heine

Polythecium pulchrum (Hook.) Van Tiegh

Edible Portion

Fruit pulp, Seeds - oil

Where does Peeling-bark ochna grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 90 Ochna species.

Status: It is a major food of the Bushmen.

Growing Peeling-bark ochna, Peeling plane

Cultivation: Seeds germinate poorly. Young plants are hard to transplant. Fresh seed planted where they are to grow is the best. The roots are only shallow.

Edible Uses: The green fruit are roasted and eaten but the seeds are poisonous. Ripe fruit are boiled in water to release fat which is edible. The seeds have been reported as being eaten in Zambia. The seeds are dried and boiled and the oil skimmed off.

Production: Fruit take 1 month to ripen. One tree can yield 7 kg of fruit. 10 tons of fruit would yield about 3 tons of oil.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Fruit	176	6.3	1	-	-	1.9	63.2

References

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