Hirtella zanzibarica subsp. megacarpa
Family: Chrysobalanaceae
What it is like
A tall evergreen tree. It grows 25 m tall. The young branches are hairy. The leaves are alternate and leathery. They are simple and narrowly oval. They are 8 cm long. There is a tip at the point and it tapers towards the base. The leaves are fairly dull on both surfaces. The flowers are white. They are in much branched heads 6-10 cm across. These are at the ends of the branches or in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are green. They are oval but narrow at the base. They are 3.5 cm long. They have a hard covering and smell hairs. They are brittle. There is one seed.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in upland rainforest between 1,300-2,000 m above sea level in Tanzania. It suits humid locations.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Tanzania
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are collected from the ground and eaten as a snack.
The fruit are especially enjoyed by children.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Ripe fruit are collected from April to June.
Its other names
Local names
Mkonechacha, Mwawa