Cordeauxia edulis
Cordeauxia edulis
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the lowland arid tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 30°c, but can tolerate 20 - 38°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 400mm, but tolerates 100 - 600mm[1]. In more humid climates, plants produce more vegetative growth, but often at the expense of fruiting[2]. Requires a sunny position in a light, very well-drained soil[2, 1]. Succeeds in poor soils that are extremely low in nitrogen[3]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8.4[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[3]. Early aerial growth of young plants is slow until the massive root system is established[2]. Plants only 1cm tall can have roots 15cm or more long[2]. Plants begin to bear well when 3 - 4 years old[2]. Plants begin to bear prolifically when only 1 - 1.2 metres tall[4]. Yields of around 5 kg of seeds per shrub can be achieved[2]. Such is the demand and free access to all wild plants that the fruits are often collected from the shrubs before they are fully mature[2]. Plants can live for 200 years or more[5]. A very deep rooted tree[6]. The tree has somewhat fleshy leaves that stain the fingers red on being rubbed[6]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[3].
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, when germination is usually good[2]. The viability is low if the seed is stored for a few months; however, seeds coated in wood ash and stored in a sack are reputed to remain viable for at least a year[2]. Germination is rapid, but subsequent growth of the aerial parts is very slow, especially in the seedling stage, whereas the root system grows rapidly. Plants 60cm tall may already have roots 2 metres long[5]. Sowing in situ is recommended because problems exist with moving seedlings from the nursery due to rapid tap-root development[2]. Vegetative propagation possible. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cordeauxia+edulis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [2]Edible Nuts. — Wickens G.E. · FAO, Rome. · 1995 · http://www.fao.org/docrep/ · ISBN 92-5-103748-5 ↩︎Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
- [3]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [4]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [5]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [6]Nuts. — Howes. F. N. · Faber · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
- [7]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎