Forest iron plum, Hairy drypetes
Drypetes gerrardii

Family: Putranjivaceae

What it is like

A small or large evergreen tree. It can grow to 30 m high. The trunk has mottled bark. It is fairly slender but is buttressed, fluted and folded to 6 or 9 m above the ground. The twigs are hairy. The leaves vary in shape and size. They are simple, alternate and stiff. The are dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The usually have wide blunt teeth along the edge. They are sword shaped with an unequal base. They are 4-9 cm long and 5 cm wide. The midrib is hairy on both sides. They are on short hairy stalks. The male and female flowers are on separate trees. They are yellow and small and in the axils of leaves. The male flowers are in clusters an the female flowers are single. The fruit are 2.5 cm long and 1.9 cm wide. They are yellow and softly hairy. They have a thin layer of pulp. This is edible They have 2 oval seeds about 1.3 cm long.

There are about 200 Drypetes species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows best in well drained soils. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows between 780-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Burundi, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for wine.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bosysterpruim, Forest ironwood, Itulelei, Merini, Umhlwakela, Umhlwakele

Synonyms

Cyclostemon argutus Sim.; Drypetes battiscombei Hutch.;