Genus: 28 species.
Region: tropical Africa, Guinea to Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.
Habitat: deciduous woodland, open woodland; Protea-Combretum-wooded savannah, scrub; forest edges; black soil; rocky ground in the high rainfall savannah area of Sudan; elevations of 15 - 1950 metres.
Content: 9.5% catechuic tannins; red fluorescent anthraquinonic pigment, corymbiferin, related to hypericin, photosensitising capacity, toxic to the kidneys and intestines; steroids and terpenes; xanthones like sporospermin.
Use: bark for yellow dye; wood for tool handles, fuel; medicinal; edible fruit.
BotanyMuch branched shrub or small tree growing; 1 - 6 metres, to 10 metres tall.
Flowers: inconspicuous, fragrant, creamy-white; 8 mm in diameter. Fruit: small, round berry, sweet flavour; bright to dark red; about 6 - 10 mm in diameter; in clusters.