Maranthes goetzeniana

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

A evergreen tree. It grows 20-35 m tall. The crown is wide and rounded. The bark is grey. The leaf blade is 15 cm long by 8 cm wide. The flowers are in a panicle at the end of branches. They are 15 cm long by 25 cm wide. The fruit is fleshy and 4.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. They are black.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist evergreen forest at low and medium altitudes. It grows between 300-1,500 m altitude. It grows in dry soils. It can grow in arid places. It can grow in the lowlands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are used in desserts. The kernel inside the hard stones are eaten.

The fruit are sometimes eaten by adults. The kernels are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, nuts, seed

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

In Tanzania fruit are collected between September and December.

Its other names

Local names

Mutumba

Synonyms

Maranthes polyandra subsp. floribunda sensu Wild & Barbosa; Maranthes africana (Benth.) Prance; Parinari gilletii sensu Baker f.; Parinari goetzeniana Engl.;