Drypetes floribunda

Family: Putranjivaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 10 m high. The crown is low and the branches are crowded. The bark is pale brown and smooth. The twigs are slender and slightly hairy. The leaves are 3.5-12.5 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. Often there are short spiny teeth along the edge. The leaf stalk is 6 mm long. The flowers are cream and 6 mm across. They occur in small clusters on the twigs. The are also on the stem on ridges which run across the stem. The fruit become yellow. They are round and 12 mm across. There are 3-4 seeds in an edible pulp.

There are about 200 Drypetes species. They are also put in the Euphorbiaceae family.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in drier parts of forest regions and extends into savannah regions. It can be on the edge of mangroves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are sweet.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ako tagbeso, Bedibesa, Bu solen, Fu kinora, Kleti, Sui-sui, Tagbesso

Synonyms

Cyclostemon floribundus Mull.Arg.; Drypetes ovata Hutch.;