Cordia sinensis is a species of flowering tree in the borage family, Boraginaceae. The species’ range extend from South Africa, through East Africa, Madagascar, West Africa and the Middle East to the Indian Subcontinent and Eastern Indochina. There is also a disjunct native population in Senegal. The species has become naturalised in Eastern Australia.[2] Common names include grey-leaved saucer berry, grey-leaved cordia, marer, mnya mate, mkamasi and tadana.
| Cordia sinensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Cordia |
| Species: | C. sinensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Cordia sinensis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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List
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Names
editC. sinensis (Latin) has a variety of names in local languages. These include Harores, Mader, Mader boor, Mader qoowe (Boran); Mkayukayu (Chonyi); Madeer (Gabra); Mderia, Mkayukayu (Giriama); Tadana (Hausa); Salapani, Lgweita (Ilchamus); Kithea, Muthei munini, Kithia (Kamba); Nokirwet (Kipsigis); Oldorko (Maasai); Mutalya chana (Riverine, Tana River), Mutaa1e (Malakote); Adomoyon (Marakwet); Mader (Orma); Muhale, Mhali (Pokomo); Adomeyon, Adome (fruit only) (Pokot); Gaer, Koh, Madeer, Gayer (Rendille); Ilgoita, Ikweite, Dorgo, Lmanturre, Lgueita, Lgweita orok, Silapani (Samburu); Hoorocha (Sanya); Mareer, Marer (Somali); Mkamasi, Mnya mate (Swahili); Adumewa, Edoma (leaves), Adomewa (Tugen); Edome (Turkana); Marer (Wardei).[3]
Description
editC. sinensis exhibits a range of growth forms, from low shrub to a multi-stemmed tree up to 12m in height. The stem bark is brown, to cream brown. Flowers are white or cream in colour. The fruit is conical, orange or red with a fleshy, viscid pulp overlying a 1-4 large seeds.
Habitat and range
editCordia sinensis is native to Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen and Zimbabwe It is a tree of arid and semi-arid regions, often in riparian zones.
Ecology
editThe fruit are an important food for monkeys and birds. The leaves provide browse for animals such as antelope, giraffe and deer.
Uses
editThe fruits are edible and are eaten in a variety of cuisine. The gum from the tree is also edible. The timber is used as firewood and for making furniture and tools. The leaves are an important source of animal fodder. Both roots and bark are used to treat a variety of disorders in both humans and livestock, including malaria, intestinal disorders and conjunctivitis.
In Turkana, the fruit is often eaten fresh, or collected into large quantities, dried, and stored. After storage it is rehydrated for consumption. The fruit is also used for juice, or to make beer, sometimes mixed with tamarind prior to fermentation.[4]
In the Tanout and Gouré Departments of Niger, the juicy pulp of the fruits is cooked down into a thick syrup locally called kango, which serves as a sweetener for porridges and can be preserved for a long time.
References
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- ^ "Cordia sinensis Lam". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Useful Trees and Shrubs of Kenya" (PDF). World Forestry. Nairobi: RELMA-ICRAF. pp. 173–4. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Ethiopia Famine Food Field Guide". UPenn Africa. University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
https://web.archive.org/web/20120504105203/http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/intro_flora_australia.pdf http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Cordiasinensis_page.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5327e/x5327e0v.htm http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Cordia_sinensis.pdf