Hirtella zanzibarica

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows up to 20 m high. It has buttresses at the base. The bark is smooth and dark brown. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blade is 12 cm long by 5 cm wide. They are oval and can be wedge shaped at the base and taper to the tip. They are unequal on the sides and slightly hairy underneath. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. They are green to white. The fruit are 2.5 cm long by 1.4 cm wide. (The fruit of Hirtella megacarpa are slightly larger.) There is one seed.

It is also put in the family Rosaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest along the edges of rivers. In Kenya it grows near the coast. It grows in the lowlands. It is usually in dry forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chigomba, Mkonechacha, Mwawa, Nandototo, Pipi, Tdichava

Synonyms

Hirtella megacarpa R. Graham;