Connaraceae FAMILY

Cnestis ferruginea

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Although widely used as a medicine and tooth cleaner in many parts of Africa, the fruits are considered toxic in Senegal[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].

Botanical Description

Cnestis ferruginea is a shrub or a tree growing to around 6 metres tall[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The plant is a popular traditional medicine in Africa. With its scarlet fruits, it has value as an ornamental.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeWestern tropical Africa - Senegal to West Cameroons and in other parts of tropical Africa.

HabitatDeciduous forest and secondary scrub[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].