Diospyros heterotricha

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-8 m high. Young branches have bristle like and long hairs. The leaves are alternate and entire. They are 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The base is rounded and they taper to the tip. Flowers are in the axils of leaves. Male flowers are in groups of 2-3 and female flowers occur singly. The fruit is an oval berry. It is 1-2 cm across. They are yellow to slightly orange. They have short hairs. There can be up to 8 seeds. The seeds are reddish-brown and 1 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level. It needs light to grow.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is occasionally cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Lufua lua ndombe, Lufwa lundomba, Munkonki

Synonyms

Diospyros loureiroana var. heterotricha Welw. ex Hiern; Royena heterotricha (Welw. ex Hiern) B. L. Burtt;