Shepherd’s tree, Caper bush, White-stemmed Boscia

A tropical plant. It tends to grow in hot places with low rainfall. It is hardy and drought resistant. It grows in places with a rainfall of less than 50 mm per year. It can tolerate frost. It grows between 5-1,850 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds.

Also known as:

Chocutsi, Chuchutzu, Honeb, Ingwavuma-lensikati, Ingwavuma, Ingwayana, Isikhwelampisi, Isiname, Koramu, Kursan, Mahlope, Mehlopi, Mopipi, Mohlopi, Motlhapi, Motlopi, Motopi, Mudobe, Mudowe, Mugaragora, Mupama, Muthobi, Mutobi, Muvgombwe, Namaloa, Omungerere, Omunkunzi, Omutendereti, T'namee, Tshibuyana, Umbombwe, Umbomwe, Umgqomogqomo, Umhlope, Umphitsi, Umtopi, Umvithi, Witgat, Witstamboom

Synonyms

Capparis albitrunca Burch.

Boscia pechuellii Kuntze

Boscia puberula Pax.

Boscia transvaalensis Pestal.

Edible Portion

Fruit, Roots, Seeds, Flower buds, Leaves, Coffee

Where does Shepherd’s tree grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are 37 Boscia species.

Status: It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.

Growing Shepherd’s tree, Caper bush, White-stemmed Boscia

Cultivation: It grows easily from seed. Seeds are collected from ripe fruit off the tree and then dried in a shady place after all the flesh is removed. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days. Seedlings are then transplanted directly into open ground. It can also be grown from shoot or root cuttings. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for juice. The roots are boiled and made into syrup. The baked roots have been used for coffee. The dried crushed roots are used for porridge. Flower buds are pickled and used as capers. The seeds are edible. The leaves are eaten raw as a famine food.

Production: Trees grow quickly in moist soil.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Fruit	-	-	-	-	-	-
Roots	107	6.5	0.4	-	6.6	0.8	68.1
Seeds	-	-	-	-	-	-
Flower buds	-	-	-	-	-	-

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