Lemonwood
Xymalos monospora

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A medium to large tree. It grows 8-25 m tall. It is often poorly shaped. The bark is light greyish-brown. It is marked with rings and circles. The leaves are opposite and simple. They are broad and oval. Leaves are 5-18 cm long by 2-6.2 cm wide. They are dark green. The leaves smell of lemon. The edges are irregularly toothed. The flowers are in short spikes in the axils of leaves near the ends of branches. The sexes are separate on separate trees. The fruit are oval and 1.5 cm long. They are fleshy and orange but red when ripe.

There is only one Xymalos species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in moist evergreen forest, especially mountain forest. Trees are resistant to fire. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit (berries) are edible.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chikalaka, Mblaka, Mpekeso, Mulaka, Nakaswaga, Nyaruboombwe

Synonyms

Toxicodendrum acutifolium Benth.;