Maerua pseudopetalosa (Gilg & Gilg-ben.) Dewolf

Perennial woody herb or subshrub with ascending branches, 3–6 dm. tall from a woody thickened root, glabrous.. Leaves ascending, petiolate, simple; blade elliptic or lanceolate, 12–35 mm. long, 3–13 mm. wide, acute, mucronate at the apex, cuneate or rounded at the base; petiole 0.5–1.5 mm. long.. Flowers many, borne singly in the upper leaf-axils; pedicels 8–20 mm. long.. Sepals elliptic, 10–12 mm. long; receptacle 2–5 mm. long.. Petals 0.. Androphore about 1 mm. longer than the receptacle; stamens 2–2.5 cm. long.. Gynophore 2.5–3 cm. long; ovary spindle-shaped, 4–6 mm. long.. Fruits globose or ovoid-cylindric, ± 2 cm. in diameter, yellow, 1–3-seeded.. Fig. 7, p. 44.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry savannah in flood land. It grows across west and East Africa. It grows in poorly drained sandy loams. It grows between 900-1,400 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

The seeds are washed several times to process them and remove poison before eating. The fruit is eaten during times of famine, after soaking in running water for several days, and then boiling in water to which a little soda has been added. The roots are used to make a sweet drink. The stems are used for salt. The plant ash from the stems and leaves is used as a spice.

Can be grown by seedlings.