Glossy dovyalis, Glossy sour cherry
Dovyalis lucida
Family: Salicaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows to 7 m high. It can be 15 m high. The bark is grey and cracked. The branches usually do not have spines. The leaves are broadly oval. They are 2.5-8 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are dark green and very glossy above and paler and dull underneath. The leaf tapers to both ends and the edges can have irregular teeth. The leaf stalk is 3 mm long. The flowers are very small and greenish-yellow. They can occur singly or in groups or 2-7. Flowers only last for a short time. The fruit is round and fleshy. They are 1-1.5 cm across. They are covered with dense sort hairs. Fruit are bright orange-red when mature. They grow in older branches. The fruit is edible.
There are about 22 Dovyalis species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows at medium altitudes in Southern Africa in evergreen forest. It can grow to sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten. They are sour.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ingcengane, Sangongongo, Umnyazuma