African medlar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids African medlar |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Vangueria |
| Species: |
V. infausta
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| Binomial name | |
| Vangueria infausta Burch.
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The African medlar (Vangueria infausta) is a plant found in southern and eastern Africa. It belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which also includes coffee plants.
People in Southern Africa call it by many names. Some of these are mmilo (Northern Sotho), muzwilu (Venḓa), and umtulwa (Zulu). Its fruits are tasty and taste a bit like apples.
The name infausta means 'unlucky'. This comes from an old belief. Some people thought that bad luck might come from using the tree's wood as firewood.
Contents
About the African Medlar Tree
The African medlar tree is usually small. It can grow up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall. It has branches that droop downwards. The bark is pale greyish-brown and peels off in flakes.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The leaves are fairly large and dull. They have smooth edges and grow in pairs opposite each other. You can see clear veins on the underside of the leaves. Young leaves are shaped like a boat.
In spring, the tree grows many green flowers. These flowers are small, about 4 mm long and 6 mm wide. They grow in tight groups.
The fruit starts green and shiny in summer. It has the remains of the flower's calyx at its tip. As it ripens, it turns into a shiny, tan-colored plum. The fruit has soft, fleshy pulp and fairly large seeds inside.
Where the African Medlar Grows
This shrub or small tree grows in many places. You can find it in woodlands and valleys. It also grows on stony hills and sandy dunes.
It is common across Southern and East Africa. This includes countries like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. It can be found from 350 to 1,330 meters (about 1,150 to 4,360 feet) above sea level.
How People Use the African Medlar
The African medlar is a traditional food plant in Africa. Its fruit is not very well known. However, it could help improve nutrition for many people. It can also help with food security and support local farming.
People eat the fruit raw. The soft pulp can also be dried and saved for later. The seeds can be roasted and eaten too.
Animals like goats and wild game eat the leaves. Other animals eat the fruit from the tree or after it falls to the ground. Traditional healers also use the roots and leaves of the tree.
See also
In Spanish: Níspero africano para niños
Images for kids
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The boat-shaped leaves
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Mite galls on leaves
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Flowers
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Fruit
