Cameroon ebony
Diospyros kamerunensis

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 16-17 m high. The trunk is straight and 1 m around. The branches are arranged in rings and young branches have a golden brown coating. The bark is thin, rough and a bright dark green colour. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are pale green above and yellowish-green below. They are narrowly oval and 3-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. Young leaves have yellow hairs. The flowers are yellow to white and there are separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers are in groups and female flowers occur singly. The fruit are oval berries that are yellow when ripe. They are 4 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. They have 6-8 black seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the under-storey of the closed forest in West Africa. It can grow in poor but well-drained soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, West Africa

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Trees grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Bong-afoum, Kokode, Marawa, Mevini, Omena, Omenowa

Synonyms

Diospyros pallescens A. Chev. [Invalid]; Diospyros sphaerocarpa Pierre ex De Wild.;