Manilkara sansibarensis

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 5-10 m tall. The crown is dense. The bark is grey to black and cracked. The leaves are oval and dark green. The flowers are cream. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are oval and 1.8 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. In Kenya it grows in coastal woodland from sea level to 300 m altitude. It grows on deep coastal red soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. They have a sweet milky pulp. The seeds are discarded.

It is an important food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

In Tanzania the fruit are collected from September to December.

Its other names

Local names

Dhoka, Mkunya, Mshezimbago, Mung'ambo

Synonyms

Manilkara cuneifolia auctt. sensu East African Herbarium; Mimusops sansibarensis Engl.; Mimusops cuneifolia auctt. sensu East African Herbarium;