Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica fruit

The compound umbel has developed to the fruiting stage resulting in various outcoumes for the earlier individual flowers.

The laterally flattened towards heart-shaped fruit of Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica has two longitudinally ridged or winged parts. The two mericarps or carpels developing from one ovary are from 5 mm to 7 mm long. They split away from each other, drying to a creamy brown when ripe during April or May.

The winged fruits carried in round clusters contain a volatile aromatic oil. Various plant parts have found their way into traditional medicine and some practices involving magic (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).