Fever berry

Fever Berry (Croton megalobotrys): The fever-berry is also known as murongo or koorsboom. It is a semi-deciduous shrub or tree that grows up to 4m high in eastern Kavango to Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) region of northern Namibia. Main habitats are riverine vegetation, swamps and alluvial soil on floodplains. Identifiable features include a smooth grey-brown bark, white to pale grey young branchlets, dark green leaves and yellow-green flowers that bloom from September to May.

The bark of the fever-berry has a bitter taste and is used by locals to treat malaria. It can also be crushed and acts as a fish poison when thrown into the river. The bark of the roots can be crushed and mixed with the latex of the Bushman poison plant and used as a poison for arrow heads.

Eating the fruit is not advised as it will cause an uncomfortable burning sensation in the throat. The timber of the fever-berry can be used as firewood.