Mantamba Live Plant (Landolphia owariensis)

Tropical Africa is home to the liana species Landolphia owariensis, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family. This plant’s latex can be harvested and used to make natural rubber. The white rubber vine, the Congo rubber plant, and eta are other names for this vine. Native to the western Cameroons, they can be found in southern Tanganyika, Uganda, and Sudan in central Africa. Landolphia owariensis is an upright bush or small tree that grows in savannah, but when it is surrounded by other trees, it can turn into a woody vine with a stem that can reach a width of a metre and a length of 100 m (330 ft). When damaged, the tough, dark brown or greyish-brown bark discharges a milky fluid and is frequently covered in pale yellow lenticels. The leaves are up to 25 by 12 cm, oblong, elliptical, or obovate, and they grow in opposing pairs (10 by 5 in). Young leaves initially have a reddish tint, but as they mature, the upper sides of the leaf blades turn glossy dark green, with a pale midrib. The terminal panicles contain the blooms. The corolla tube and lobes are yellowish, pinkish, or white, while the peduncles and calyx lobes are covered in brown hairs. Orange-like, spherical, wrinkled fruit appear after the flowers. These normally have three seeds and soft, edible flesh surrounding them. When ripe, they are delicious and mildly acidic.

Common Name: Mantamba,White rubber vine,Burkill

Botanical Name:  Landolphia owariensis

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 3 to 4 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate