Saba senegalensis

Saba senegalensis

Saba senegalensis ( syn.. Landolphia senegalensis ( A.DC. ) Kotschy & Peyr, Vahea A.DC. senegalensis ) is a species in the subfamily Rauvolfioideae within the family of the dogbane family ( Apocynaceae ). It is native to West Africa. The fruit is known as Kaba.

Description

Saba senegalensis is a vine with white milky sap (latex). The leaves are stalked towards permanent and entire. In a terminal, schirmrispigen inflorescence strongly scented flowers are borne. The Kronröhren are white. The oval, 6-8 cm wide fruits have a rough surface.

Use

The edible fruit is Kaba in mandinka Mada Madd or in Wolof and in the spelling Maad; Findipuff called in Diola.

In Mali, the fruit Zaban or Saba is called, depending on the language region.

It is opened for consumption as a boiled egg. The sour pulp consists of 18.5 percent from carbohydrates and contains 0.48 percent vitamin C. It is fresh, sometimes with added sugar or salt, eaten or processed in the local cuisine of Senegal and Gambia.

The latex is used as an adhesive and arrow poison.

Pictures

A Western Vervet monkey with a Kaba Fruit

A Kaba fruit after a meal ( probably ) by a Western Vervet monkey