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.
C. 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.
The fruit are an important food for monkeys and birds. The leaves provide browse for animals such as antelope, giraffe and deer.
Uses
The 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.
