Vangueria infausta

This article is about a species of flowering plants called Medlar. For other uses, see Medlar.
African medlar
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Vangueria
Species: V. infausta
Binomial name
Vangueria infausta
Burch.

Vangueria infausta, the medlar[1] or African medlar, is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae, which is native to the southern and eastern Afrotropics. The fruits are consumed by humans and have a pleasant apple like flavor. The specific name infausta alludes to the misfortune believed to result from its use as firewood.[2]

Description

The trees are low-branching[2] and mostly smallish but may reach 8 m in height. They have drooping branchlets and have pale greyish brown, flaky bark.[3] The fairly large, dull leaves have entire margins and are somewhat variable in shape. They have an opposite arrangement and conspicuous net-veining below.[3] Young leaves are boat-shaped and recurved along the central vein.[2]

Dense clusters of robust green flowers develop from pointed buds in spring. Each velvety flower is about 4 mm long and 6 mm wide, and are carried on opposite and axillary cymes.[3] The corolla is dropped early.

The initially green and glossy fruit appear in summer, and bear the remains of the calyx around their tips.[2] They develop into unevenly-shaped, glossy, tan-coloured plums, that contain soft fleshy pulp and fairly large seeds.[3]

Range

This shrub or small tree occurs in abundance in woodlands, scrub, valleys, stony kopjies, or sandy dunes throughout much of Southern and East Africa, including Madagascar. In Africa it is native to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.[3] It may be found from 350[3] to 1,330 m above sea level.[2]

Uses

The African medlar is a traditional food plant in Africa. This little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care.[4] The fruit are consumed raw or the pulp may be dried and stored for later use, while the seeds may be roasted.[3] Goats and game browse on the leaves, while other animals may consume the fruit on the tree, or after they are shed on the ground.[2][3] The roots and leaves are used by traditional healers.[2][3]

Thin twigs are prone to being populated by spittlebugs.

References

  1. ↑ "USDA GRIN Taxonomy".
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Thomas, Val; Rina Grant; illustrations: Joan van Gogh; photographs: Jaco Adendorff (2001). Sappi tree spotting: Highlands: Highveld, Drakensberg, Eastern Cape mountains (3rd ed.). Johannesburg: Jacana. p. 264. ISBN 978-1-77009-561-8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Orwa C, Mutua A , Kindt R , Jamnadass R, Simons A. (2009). "Vangueria infausta, Rubiaceae". Agroforestree Database:a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. worldagroforestry.org. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ↑ National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Medlars". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2008-08-01.

Media related to Vangueria infausta at Wikimedia Commons