Chrysophyllum pruniforme

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m high. The trunk is 80 cm across. The trunk is straight and cylinder shaped. It may have slight buttresses. The leaves are alternate in 2 rows. They are simple and entire. The leaf blade is 4-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in tufts in the axils of leaves. They are greenish. The fruit are round of oval and 5 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are yellow when ripe. They have up to 5 seeds. The seeds are 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide and shiny brown.

There are about 80-150 Chrysophyllum species. They are mostly in tropical America. There are 44 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest usually on well drained soils. It suits humid locations. In East Africa it grows up to 1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is edible in some regions.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abam akouk bekwe, Duatadwe

Synonyms

Donella pruniformis (Pierre ex Engl.) Aubrev. & Pellegr.;