Tassel Berry
A tropical plant. It occurs in coastal bush. It grows naturally in Central and Southern Africa. It needs to be in a frost free area. It can grow in arid places. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in wet grassland savannah. It grows in Miombo woodland. In Tanzania it grows between sea level to 1,200 m above sea level in areas with a rainfall between 700-2,000 mm.
Also known as:
Bhekindoda, Chidiapumbwa, Chikura, Hubulu, Huda, Fitidi de nseke, Fuitidi, Imhlalanyoni, Inhlalalgwabgwa, Isambalabwabwa, Isibamuloti, Isibangamlota, Kamanena, Kihuro, Kitelanthia, Kitolanthia, Linene, Mdundira, Mdyapimbwa, Meskela, Mgwejameno, Mkundu wa ubi, Motshela-khwale, Mpepea, Mpululu, Mpungulira, Msekela, Mselala, Mserera, Mufhala-khwali, Mukala, Mukhwali-kwali, Muindi, Murombe, Murungamunya, Mushongue, Musumbaramgamga, Namasamasa, Namatjamatja, Odugu-kulo, Phasanhwari, Sambalalalgwabgwa, Sambusi, Shonga, Sirika, Tassle Berry, Tawotatchoyan, Umhlala-sasem-kangala, Umtshongi, Umumwelaminzi, Voelsitbloom
Synonyms
- Antidesma bifrons Tul.
- Antidesma boivianum Baill.
- Antidesma fuscocinereum Beille
- Antidesma natalense Harv.
- Antidesma neriifolium Pax & K. Hoffm.
- Antidesma nervosum E. Mey ex Tul. var. thouarsianum Tul.
- Minutalia tomentosa Fenzl
Edible Portion
- Fruit, Leaves
Where does Tassel Berry grow?
Found in: Africa, Angola, Australia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 100-170 Antidesma species.
Status: The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.
Growing Tassel Berry
Cultivation: Both male and female fruit are necessary for fruiting. Plants are grown from seeds. The ripe black fruit are harvested from the tree and dried in the shade then sown. Seeds usually germinate in 10-20 days. Seedlings can be transplanted at the 3 leaf stage. It can be cut back and will re-grow. Plants can be grown from root suckers.
Edible Uses: The ripe fruit are eaten fresh, especially by children. The dry shell is removed. The seeds are discarded. The leaves are used to make a drink.
Production: Seedlings grow fairly quickly. Fruit are collected during and after the rainy season.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 18 | 0.4 | 0.9 | - | 2 | 0.2 | 93.7 |
| Leaves | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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