Wild coffee beans, Kalahari bauhinia, Camel's foot
A tropical plant. It grows in sand in the desert. It is not frost resistant. It thrives in hot, dry climates. It can tolerate extended drought. It needs well-drained soil. It grows between 550-1,800 m above sea level. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 350-1,000 mm per year. It can grow in arid places.
Also known as:
Chingando, Mochopi, Mogotswe, Mohesi, Mohuthi, Motshopo, Mudianchefu, Mupondo, Mugutswe, Ngwa, Rag bush, Small white bauhinia, Tkguntkkowa, Umpondo
Synonyms
- Bauhinia macrantha Oliver
- Bauhinia petersiana Bolle subsp. serpae (Ficalho & Hiern) Brummitt & J. Ross
- Bauhinia serpae Ficalho & Hiern.
- Perlebia macrantha (Oliver) Schmitz
- Perlebia macrantha (Oliver) Schmitz subsp. serpae (Ficalho & Hiern)Schmitz
Edible Portion
- Seeds, Roots, Pods
Where does Wild coffee beans grow?
Found in: Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 250-350 Bauhinia species. Most are in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Status: The pounded seeds are a staple food of the Bushmen. The nectar of the flowers is sucked out especially by children.
Growing Wild coffee beans, Kalahari bauhinia, Camel's foot
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate fairly easily. The seeds are put in hot water and soaked overnight then planted. They germinate in 7-20 days. Seedlings can be transplanted at the 2 leaf stage. It is important not to damage the taproot. Plants can be cut back and will re-grow.
Edible Uses: The seeds are used as a coffee substitute. The seeds are roasted and ground into flour. Young seeds can be roasted in the pods then eaten. The roasted root can be eaten. The young pods are boiled and eaten.
Production: It takes about 1,500 pods to produce 1 kg of meal.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 55 (As Bauhinia macrantha)
Fl. trop. Afr. 2:289. 1871
Flora Zambesiaca. http://apps.kew.org/efloras
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 28
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 202 (As Bauhinia petersiana subsp. serpae)
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 24
Larson, T. J., 1970, Hambukushu Ethno-botany. Botswana Notes and Records. Vol 13. (As Bauhinia macrantha)
Leger, S., 1997, A Description of Today's Use of Plants in West Bushmanland (Namibia). German Development Service. PO Box 220035, 14061 Berlin, Germany. http://www.sigridleger.de/book/
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 2. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 869
Pickering, H., & Roe, E., 2009, Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area. Helen Pickering, London. p 71
Roodt, V., 1998, Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta. Medicinal Uses and Nutritional value. The Shell Field Guide Series: Part 1. Shell Botswana. p 119
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 21st April 2011]
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 56
Venter, F & J., 2009, Making the most of Indigenous Trees. Briza. p 62