Milk plum, Stem-fruit
Englerophytum magalismontanum

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can grow to 15 m tall. It can occasionally grow up to 33 m. Often the roots are twisted around a rock. It has a leafy rounded crown. The trunk is thin and has flutes along it. The stem is mostly short and thick and the branches can touch the ground. Often the trunk has wart like growths. The bark is grey and rough. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are often crowded towards the ends of branches. The leaves are firm and leathery. The leaves are oval and dark green and shiny on top but brown and hairy underneath. The young shoots and twigs have dense rusty hairs. The upper leaf surface often has a bloom. The under surface of the leaves has silver or red hairs. The leaves are 5-10 cm long but can be 30 cm long. The leaf stalks are 0.6-2.5 cm long. Flowers are fruit are produced on old wood. The flowers buds occur in clusters often on knobs on the branches and trunk. The fruit are 2.5 cm long. They are bright red when ripe. There is a small point at the end. The fruit have a leathery skin and 2 stones inside. The flesh is purple and they have a sticky latex. The seeds are oval and 1.7 x 1.4 cm.

The fruit are high in Vit C with 40 mg per 100 g.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs near quartzite and granite rocks. It can grow in the lowlands and up to 1800 m in South Africa. They mostly grow in coastal areas in deciduous woodland. They are somewhat drought resistant and can tolerate frost. They grow on a range of soils. They do best on dry well drained soils. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten raw. They can be dried. The fruit can be eaten when immature or when ripe. They are also used for beer, wine and jams.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed or cuttings. Fresh seed germinate quickly. Cuttings from old wood can be used. Fruit are ready to harvest 4-5 months after flowering.

Trees grow fairly quickly. In Tanzania fruit are collected from April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Manumbela, M'suassua, Mebundi, Mohlatswa, Mothazwa, Motlhatjwa wa tilhaga, Mumbuti, Munombelo, Musambya, Musongosongo, Musozwa, Nhembedwa, Nombela, Nufu-nufu, Red milkwood, Sambiambia, Stamvrug, Stemberry, Transvaal milkplum, Umbovanhlath, Umnumbela, Wild plum

Synonyms

Bequaertionddron magalismontanum (Sond.) Heine et J. H. Hemsley; Chrysophyllum magalismontanum Sond.; Chrysophyllum argyrophyllum Hiern.; Chrysophyllum wilmsii Engl.; Sideroxylon randii S. Moore; Zeyherella magalismontana (Sond.) Aubrev & Pellegr.; Pouteria magalismontana (Sond.) A. Meeuse; Chrysophyllum laurentii;