Drypetes gilgiana

Family: Putranjivaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 12 m high. The trunk is 60 cm around. The bark is light grey-brown. The leaves are 3.5-7.5 cm long by 1-6 cm wide. They are papery and dark green. The leaves are unequal at the base. The flowers are yellowish. The male flowers occur as 1-3 together and the female flowers are single. The fruit are bright orange or red. They look like little oranges. They are 18 mm across. There are 2 seeds and an edible pulp.

There are about 200 Drypetes species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows as an understorey tree in high forest. It can be in palm groves and along river banks. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 1,440 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The pulp around the seeds is sweet and is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Eke, Katrikanini, Osunsunro

Synonyms

Cyclostemon gilgianus Pax; Lingelsheimia gilgiana (Pax) Hutch.;