Maerua angolensis

Maerua angolensis, described by DC. in 1824, is a member of the Capparaceae family. It is a shrub or small tree found in Angola and other parts of tropical Africa, including Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, and many others. It grows in open forest, grassy savannah, and wooded savannah, often on termitaria and in thickets bordering seasonal watercourses. It can reach elevations of up to 1800m. The plant is occasionally deciduous and is used for medicinal purposes. It is not common but is widespread in tropical and arid regions of Africa, and is absent from areas with high rainfall. It is known locally in Angola as mudiangombe and mudi-ya-nongo (Kimbundu).