The edible portions of 16 edible wild fruits were analysed for moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, ash and minerals (Ca, Mg, Fe, P, K, and Na). The total carbohydrate and energy contents were calculated. Trichilia emetica, Strychnos spinosa, Azanza garckeana, Ximenia caffra and Parinari curatellifolia gave the highest levels of protein (17.0%), fat (31.2%), fibre (45.3%), ash (11.2%) and carbohydrate (88.2%), respectively, The highest and lowest energy values were found for Strychnos spinosa (1923 kJ 100 g-1) and Azanza garckeana (810 kJ 100 g-1), respectively. Bauhinia thonningii afforded the highest dry matter content (91.6%). The highest contents of Ca, Mg, Fe, P, K and Na were found for Adansonia digitata (1156 μg g-t-1), Syzigium guineense (2247 μg g-1), Syzigium guineense (758 μg g-1), Trichilia emetica (3164 μg g-1), Ximenia caffra (41 791 μg g-1) and Flacourtia indica (589 μg g-1), respectively. © 1994.
