Bully tree
Sideroxylon mascatense

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A spiny shrub or small tree. It grows 7-10 m high. The leaves are alternate and 1-4 cm long by 0.4-2.5 cm wide. They are spoon shaped to narrowly oval. The flowers are 2.5 mm long. The fruit are a flattened round shape and yellowish-brown. They are 1 cm across and they have one large seed. The fruit is fleshy and does not have a stalk. It is shiny and green. The skin is rough.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and Mediterranean climate plant. It grows between 1,500-2,100 m above sea level. In NW Pakistan fruit are available in June.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Djibouti, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Middle East, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw as a dessert fruit.

Fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

B'ut, Goorgoora, Gorgora, Guagur, Gur gura, Gwargurah

Synonyms

Edgeworthia buxifolia Falconer; Monotheca buxifolia (Falconer) A. DC.; Monotheca mascatensis A. DC.; Reptonia buxifolia (Falconer) A. DC.; Reptonia mascatensis (A. DC.) O. Schwartz; Sideroxylon aubertii A. Chev.; Sideroxylon buxifolium Hutch.; Sideroxylon corradii Chiov. ex Chiarugi; Sideroxylon gillettii Jutch. & Bruce; Spiniluma buxifolia (Hutch.) Aubrev.;