Oncoba spinosa

Oncoba spinosa Forssk.

Common names

Snuff box tree, fried egg flower (English); musombo, nzombo, muzombo (Bemba/Bisa/Kunda); matanta, mutanta (Kunda); daza, dzorba, matseka, mseche, msewe, mtawa, mlaza, mpamalaza, msese, mtanta, nchowana, mtumgwa (Nyanja); musese (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small tree or much branched shrub, with long sharp spines. The smaller branches have conspicuous light dots. The leaves are dark green, serrated and leathery. Oncoba spinosa produces large white ‘dog rose’ flowers with a pleasant scent (November-December). The fruits are spherical, slightly larger than a golf ball and are dark brown when ripe (April-May).

Can be confused with Flacourtia indica. See that species.

Range and habitat

Valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket. Levees and sand deposits of major rivers.