Characteristics
A shrub or small tree. It grows 6 m high. It loses many leaves during the year. The small branches usually point upwards. It forms thickets. The bark is dark grey and smooth. The stems are spiny. The leaves are even along their length. They are 2-3 cm long and are hairy. The leaves are clustered near the ends of branches. The flowers are creamy white. The fruit are oval and red or yellow when ripe. They are 2 cm across.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
shrub
|
| Growth support |
-
|
| Foliage retention |
deciduous
|
| Sexuality |
dioecy
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
6.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It is often along rivers and on termite mounds. It grows from 600-1,525 m altitude. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of about 500 mm. It grows on rocky and sandy soils. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
-
|
Usage
The fruit are eaten fresh and also used for drinks. They are also made into alcoholic drinks. The fruit pulp is sweet.
| Uses |
-
|
| Edible
|
fruits
|
| Therapeutic use
|
-
|
| Human toxicity |
-
|
| Animal toxicity |
-
|
Cultivation
| Mode |
-
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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