We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Landolphia heudelotii - A.DC.

Common Name Guinea gumvine, Landolphia rubber
Family Apocynaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Mainly a savannah and understory shrub, it is often found in open forests and on laterite and sandy soils near rivers[323 ].
Range Western tropical Africa - Senegal to N. Ghana.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Wet Soil Full sun
Landolphia heudelotii Guinea gumvine, Landolphia rubber


edibleplants.org
Landolphia heudelotii Guinea gumvine, Landolphia rubber
© Warren McCleland; African plants - A Photo Guide

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Landolphia heudelotii is a CLIMBER growing to 15 m (49ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Landolphia michelinii Benth. Landolphia tomentosa (Lepr. & Perr. ex Baucher) Dewèvre Landolphia traunii (Sadeb.) Sadeb. ex K.Schum. Vahea heudelotii (A.DC.) F.Muell. Vahea senegambensis traunii (Sadeb.) Sadeb. Vahea tomentosa Lepr. & Perr. ex Baucher Vahea traunii Sadeb.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink

The fruit pulp is edible and refreshing[332 ]. It is slightly acidulous and mucilaginous and is said to promote good digestion[332 ]. The pulp surrounding the seeds is filled with a juice that is regarded as very healthful and is sometimes prescribed as an aid to digestion[323 ]. Rich in organic acids, this pulp is used as a snack, as a breakfast food, and as a source of refreshing drinks[323 ]. The juice is commonly used to season rice with its sprightly sourness[323 ]. It is fermented to make an alcoholic drink[332 ]. The yellow fruit is pear-shaped or globose and often suddenly contracted into a stout stipe, 3 - 8cm in diameter.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antihaemorrhoidal  Odontalgic  Tonic

A decoction of the stems, or of the roots, is given for treating intestinal pains[332 ]. It is not purgative[332 ]. Vapour from a boiling concoction of leafy twigs is inhaled orally for tooth troubles[332 ]. The plant (part not stated) is used in draughts and added to squat-baths in treating haemorrhoids[332 ]. A decoction of the roots, and of the fruit pulp, with some lime-juice is added to baths as a remedy for fatigue[332 ]. The seeds have unspecified medicinal use in Sierra Leone[332 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Latex

The plant contains an abundance of white latex and the rubber obtained from it is of good quality[46 , 323 ]. The sap is no longer used commercially, but has local applications - to fix bicycle tubes, for example[323 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Coppice  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Management: Coppice  Regional Crop

The plant grows under trees and is promising for agroforestry[323 ]. The plant is said to withstand bush-fires and grazing[332 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - Cuttings

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Angambane, Beta, Bufene, Canho, Debol-poledje, Entonke, Erocodo, Fole-di-lala, Fole-di-lete, Fole-macacou, Fole-pequeno, Fole, Foleos-sum-o, Folezinho, Foli, Mambina, N'batano, Pore-lare, Pore, Psobe, Umbatano

Native Range

AFRICA: Burkina Faso, Côte D‘Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Landolphia kirkiiSand apricot-vine, Coast rubber vine, WildpeachClimber15.0 10-12 FLMHSNM202

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

A.DC.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Landolphia heudelotii  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.