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Summary

Vangueria infausta, known as African Medlar, is a low-branching tree reaching a height of 8 m and is native to the southern and eastern Afrotropics. It is tolerant to drought but growth rate is slow. The bark is brown and flaky, and leaves are large, opposite, dull, and vary in shape. Flowers are green and in dense clusters. The fruits are glossy and green when young, then become tan as it mature. African medlar is a traditional food plant in Africa and provides medicinal uses. The fruits are consumed raw or its pulp is dried and stored for later use. The seeds can be roasted. The roots are used to treat snake-bite, malaria, pneumonia, heart ailments and coughs, while the leaves are used for swellings on the legs, inflammation of the navel in children, abdominal pain, and dental pain. The wood is used as poles for houses, tool handles, and agricultural implements. It is also used for fuel.

Physical Characteristics

Vangueria infausta is a deciduous Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Canthium infaustum (Burch.) Baill. Vangueria barnimiana Schweinf. Vangueria campanulata Robyns Vangu

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[46 , 301 , 418 ]. A soft, fleshy pulp[418 ]. An acid, somewhat sweetish-sour flavour[301 ]. The brown pulp round the seeds tastes somewhat like stewed dried, apple-rings[466 ]. The pulp is sometimes soaked in water and then dried for later use[418 ]. The green fruit usually ripens to a dull orange-brown or purplish colour. It is 15 - 47mm in diameter[308 ]. Seeds - raw[301 ]. They can also be made into a relish[301 ].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Anthelmintic Antidote Antiinflammatory Antitussive Malaria Odontalgic Purgative

The root is anthelmintic, antidote and purgative[418 ]. A popular snake-bite remedy, it is also used to treat a variety of complaints such as malaria, pneumonia, coughs and other chest troubles[418 ]. A warm decoction of the roots is considered to be an effective remedy for heart ailments in Namibia[775 ]. The leaves are applied externally as a treatment for swellings on the legs; inflammation of the navel in children; abdominal pain; and for the relief of dental pain[418 ].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fuel Wood

Other Uses The wood can be used as poles for houses, tool handles and agricultural implements[303 ]. The wood is considered a good fuel in some areas, though in others it is said to bring bad luck if burnt[295 , 303 , 418 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A tree of the subtropics to tropics, usually growing in areas with a distinct dry season at elevations up to 1,500m [308 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 17 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 12 - 36°c[418 ]. The plant is fairly frost-tolerant and is able to withstand temperatures down to -5°c when it is dormant, though even light frosts can damage the young growth[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 800 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 700 - 1,500mm[418 ]. Succeeds in full sun to light shade[418 ]. Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well drained[418 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[418 ]. A slow growing plant, usually increasing height by less than 50cm a year[295 , 303 ].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[295 ]. It can be stored for up to 12 months if dried properly[303 ]. Cuttings.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Imadnulu, Infahlo, Ingumi, Ivili, Iviyo, Mafila, Mapendo, Mbilima, Mfukutu, Mispel, Mkangandembo, Mmilo, Mpulukututu, Msada, Msambarawe, Msilu, Mulada, Mungolomya, Mutululo, Muziru, Mvilu, Mviru, Mzilu, Ndigiti, Ndowiro, Nombumbu, Nwene, Titipe, !hom!homs, /guri, anyuka, apindi, bergmispel, eembu, emaler, engumi-etari (loita), false medlar, grootmispel, g|u'urih, ibbu, ikoromosien, ikoromosyoi, kimolik, kimolwet, komolik, komolwo, kumukhomoli, m'djululo, m'ziro, mafila, mbiruiru, mboghombogho, mmilo, mmupudu, monyonyana, mothwane, mpfilwa, mubilo, mubiru, mughomoli, mukhomoli, mukomoa, mukomora, munziro, munzviru, muteleli, mutululo, muviru, muzoza, mviru, narakasha, nombumbu, ntswila, nwene, nzwigwa, olgum (plural), olgumi, ombu, omibu, omimbu, omokomoni, omudenja, omudjenya, omumbu, omundjenya, omutjenya, omuya, ondenya, oshimbu, ozondjenya, shikomoli, titipe, umthofu, umviyo, velvet wild-medlar, wild medlar, wild-medlar, wilde moepel, wildemispel, |u'uru.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Cameroon; Rwanda; Kenya; Tanzania, United Republic of; Uganda; Malawi; Mozambique; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Namibia; South Africa; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Angola; Swaziland; Sudan; South Sudan, Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Congo, East Africa, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zululand, Zimbabwe,

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 itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

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

Burch.

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.

Vangueria infausta - Burch.