Vangueria madagascariensis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Vangueria madagascariensis J.F. Gmel.

Family: Rubiaceae

Synonyms

• Vangueria edulis Vahl.

Vernacular names

• Voa-vanga (En).

Distribution

Originating in Africa. Occasionally cultivated there and in India, China, Australia, America and South-East Asia.

Uses

The fruits are edible, tasting like apples.

Observations

• Branched shrub, up to 5 m tall, with soft leaves.
• Fruit a subglobose berry, 2-3 cm in diameter, wrinkled, greenish-yellow, with 5 seeds.

In dry areas at low elevations.

Selected sources

• Brown, W.H., 1951-1957. Useful plants of the Philippines. Reprint of the 1941-1943 ed. 3 Volumes. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Technical Bulletin 10. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines.

• Burkill, I.H., 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2nd ed. 2 Volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2444 pp.

• Mansfeld, R. & Schultze Motel, J., 1986. Verzeichnis landwirtschaftlicher und gärtnerischer Kuturpflanzen. 2nd ed. 4 Volumes. Springer Verlag, Berlin. 1998 pp.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen, J. Jukema, L.P.A. Oyen, T.G. van Lingen