Thespesia garckeana

Thespesia garckeana (also known by its synonym Azanza garckeana) is a tree in the family Malvaceae, found throughout the warmer parts of Southern Africa in wooded grasslands, open woodland and thickets. It grows naturally over a range of altitudes from 1000 to 2000 m above sea level, from semi-arid areas to areas of higher rainfall. T. garckeana is often found on or near termite mounds in old fields.

Common names: African Chewing Gum, Snot Apple, Tree Hibiscus, Mutohwe (Shona), nkole (Sri Lanka)

Uses

• The whole fruit except the seeds is chewed like gum, producing a sweet glutinous slime. The fruit is also used as a syrup and soup.
• The sap wood is yellow and the heart wood is a deep brown. It is easily worked but generally only suitable for small building needs, tool handles, oxen yokes, and domestic items such as spoons.
• The leaves of T. garckeana have many uses including green manure and mulch. The leaves also provide an often used fodder.

See also

• List of Southern African indigenous trees

References

• "azanza garckeana". Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information. http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=136780. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
• "azanza garckeana". Ecocrop FAO. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=3582. Retrieved 2010-02-08.