Uapaca kirkiana
Encyclopedia
Uapaca kirkiana or sugar plum is a species of plant
in the Phyllanthaceae
family. This is one of the most popular wild fruits in the zone where eastern Africa meets southern Africa
. Still a traditional food plant in Africa
, this little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.
In Shona
, the fruit are referred to as mazhanje.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
in the Phyllanthaceae
Phyllanthaceae
Phyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Malpighiales. It is most closely related to the family Picrodendraceae. The Phyllanthaceae are most numerous in the tropics, with many in the south temperate zone, and a few ranging as far north as the middle of the north temperate...
family. This is one of the most popular wild fruits in the zone where eastern Africa meets southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Still a traditional food plant in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, this little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.
In Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
, the fruit are referred to as mazhanje.