Manilkara sulcata

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m tall. It can be 20 m tall. The bark is grey and cracked. The leaves are small and clustered towards the tips of the branches. They are usually less than 4 cm long. They are light green and shiny. The flowers are cream. The fruit is oval and can be up to 1.3 cm long. It is light green but turns more yellow as it ripens.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. In Kenya it grows in coastal regions. It grows in coastal bushland on sandy soils. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are sweet and are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds.

In Tanzania fruit are collected from August to December.

Its other names

Local names

Charika, Mbate-tsaka, Mchedi, Mcheji-dume, Mkurati, Msazi, Msezi, Mshezi, Mshezimbago, Mtsedzi, Mutsami, Mutsedzi, Mwarika

Synonyms

Mimusops sulcata Engl.;