Saba comorensis
| Saba comorensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific name | Saba comorensis[1] |
| Common names | bungo, mbungo, rubber vine[2] |
| Genus | Saba |
| Family | Apocynaceae[1] |
| Order | Gentianales[1] |
| Growth form | Forest liana reaching about 20 m[3] |
| Native habitat | Forest, coastal, and Great Lakes habitats from 0–1,250 m[3] |
| Climate and site | Mean annual temperature about 20 °C; mean annual rainfall 900–2,000 mm[3] |
| Propagation | Cleaned seed; germination beginning about 12 days after sowing in the reported method[3] |
| Fruit | Subglobose, about 4–8 cm long and 3.5–6 cm wide; orange-yellow when ripe, with yellow pulp and numerous dark seeds[3] |
| Fruit maturation | December–May in Tanzania[3] |
Saba comorensis is a forest liana known as bungo or mbungo. It produces orange-yellow fruit with yellow pulp that is used for a sour drink in coastal Tanzania and Pemba.[2][3]
Description[edit | edit source]
This woody liana has white sticky latex and fragrant flowers. Its subglobose fruit is green when young and turns orange-yellow as it ripens; the yellow pulp surrounds numerous brown-black seeds. The fruit is about 4–8 cm long and 3.5–6 cm wide, although measurements vary among plants.[3]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
The species occurs in forest, coastal, and Great Lakes habitats, with sandy clay loams and loamy soils among the recorded soil associations.[3] As a habitat-based cultivation inference, begin with a moisture-retentive medium that still drains freely, and avoid prolonged saturation while the root system establishes. Adjust irrigation to the plant's growth and weather rather than applying a fixed schedule.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
The recorded forest and coastal settings support a warm, humid growing context.[3] As a conservative cultivation inference, start young plants in bright filtered light or gentle morning sun with good airflow, and protect them from abrupt drying; increase exposure only as growth and water status allow.
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Flowering is described as irregular; in Tanzania it is recorded from February to November, while fruit maturation is recorded from December to May.[3] Keep moisture steady during active growth and fruit development. In a cooler or persistently wet period, reduce irrigation enough to prevent saturation rather than following the Tanzanian calendar as a universal schedule.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
For seed propagation, remove the pulp by hand and clean the seeds in water before sowing. The reported method begins germination at about 12 days after sowing and achieves success above 90 percent under its described conditions; treat those figures as method-specific rather than guaranteed results for every seed lot.[3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is irregular among populations, with February–November flowering recorded in Tanzania. Fruits mature from December to May in that setting and change from green to orange-yellow. Colour change is a practical harvest cue, while the calendar should be adjusted to the plant's local seasonal rhythm.[3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The ripe fruit contains yellow pulp and numerous seeds. The pulp is edible and is used to make a sour drink in coastal Tanzania and Pemba.[2][3]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [2] Saba comorensis.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
The summary illustration is File:Saba comorensis - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-085.jpg, a botanical illustration of Saba comorensis historically labelled Landolphia comorensis, credited to Franz Eugen Köhler in Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen. The file is stated as Public domain. The illustration is used once in the summary and is not repeated in a Photos section.
