GARDENIA ERUBESCENS Stapf & Hutch.—Gaude. RUBIACEAE.
A common and conspicuous shrub of the savannahs whose only claim to importance lies in its frequent occurrence in large numbers over wide areas of the country. It rarely exceeds 10 or 12 feet in height as against the 20 feet to which its congener, G. ternifolia may attain. It is often gregarious, occurs in rich or poor and rocky soil and is more or less a component of all types of savannah. It branches from ground level and forms a round bush. The branches are twisted and bent, stout, blunt and springy.
A comparison with G. ternifolia shows G. erubescens to have larger, paler and brighter green leaves, with less crinkled margins; crisp, not fibrous fruits of more uniform and oblong shape; stouter, blunter and browner twigs, and a more shrub-like growth.
The Bark is smooth, grey-brown, with a powdery surface and small, thin scales which leave lighter scars. The slash is yellow, with green edges.
The Wood is yellow, hard, crisp under the axe, planes well, seasons well, is sound and clean and weighs 50 lbs. a cubic foot. In transverse section the rings are clearly visible as fine white lines, the pores are minute, open, evenly distributed and more numerous in the light annual rings. The rays are extremely fine, rather far apart and wavy.
The Leaves are about 5 inches long and 2½ inches broad, bright green and shiny on the upper surface, lighter beneath, with the mid-rib raised on both sides. The margin is wavy or not, and some leaves are narrow at the tip and others blunt and flat. They do not form as marked rosettes as those of G. ternifolia.
The Flowers are large, white, tubular, 6-petalled blooms, 3 inches in diameter with a very long, narrow corolla tube from which protrudes a ribbed club-like stigma, surrounded by 6 stamens consisting only of long anthers attached by their centres to the corolla. They are very highly scented and are conspicuous from their size, colour, number and perfume about December.
The Fruits are fleshy, potato-like, yellow, with a smooth surface and variable in size and shape, though usually long. The flower-parts are persistent at the top. The firm, juicy flesh surrounds a number of small, flat, yellow seeds in a bright yellow, pithy pulp, and is sweet and edible. They are eaten by antelopes.
Uses.—The fruits are eaten fresh or made into a sauce as an ingredient of soup.