Edible Plants of the World

Poison arrow tree, Rough-leaved poison-bush

It is a tropical plant. It grows in Africa. It grows in dry woodland. In equatorial regions is occurs from 1,000 to 2,300 m above sea level. It does best in well drained forest soils but will grow on poorer soils. It is mostly in hill country. It can grow in arid places. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 500-900 mm. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Also known as:

Kelyo, Kerero, Kivai, Lawa, Mchungu, Merenz, Mopte, Mshunguti, Msongu, Msungu, Msunguti, Murichu, Olmorijoi, Qaraaro, Qararuu, Umusagwe, Waabay

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Poison arrow tree grow?

Found in: Africa, Australia, Central Africa, Congo, Djibouti, East Africa, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 5-7 Acokanthera species.

Status: It is a famine food.

Growing Poison arrow tree, Rough-leaved poison-bush

Cultivation: They are grown from seed. Seed do no always germinate evenly. There are 400-450 seeds per kg. The seed do not store well.

Edible Uses: The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jams. The whole plant is poisonous so care should be taken. Caution: The unripe fruit are poisonous.

Production: It grows at a medium rate. Fruit are collected April to July.

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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Bethwell, O.O., 2007. Acokanthera schimperi (A.DC.) Schweinf. [Internet] Record from Protabase. Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. < http://database.prota.org/search.htm>. Accessed 13 October 2009.

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Global Plants JSTOR

Herb., E. A., 1981,

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Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 56

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Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors), 2008. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 11(1)-Medicinal plants 1.PROTA Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands /791 pp

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Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora (As Acokanthera rotundata)

J. Thomson, Through Masai Land Appendix 351. 1887 (G. Bentham & J. D. Hooker, Gen. pl. 2:696. 1876, nom. inval.)

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World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew