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. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
• "azanza garckeana". Ecocrop FAO. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
• Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). [http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Azanza+garckeana&filterRegionIDs[]=6&filterRegionIDs[]=1&filterRegionIDs[]=2&filterRegionIDs[]=3&filterRegionIDs[]=5 "Azanza garckeana"]. African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.