Milk-pear
Inhambanella henriquesii

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows up to 20 m tall. The trunk is straight. The bark is light brown and cracked along its length. The crown is spreading with thick foliage. Young leaves are red. The leaves are large, thick and leathery. The leaves are crowded alternately or in spirals around the branches. Leaves vary. They can be oblong or round. The base is narrowed. Leaves are 5-18 cm long by 2.5-8 cm wide. The edges are wavy and roll inwards. The midrib shows up clearly on both sides of the leaf. The leaf stalks are 5 cm long and can be swollen at the base. The flower buds are red and hairy. They occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. Flowers are yellow or white. The fruit is a berry. It is 4 cm long and 2.5-3 cm wide. It is bright orange-red. It has a tough skin. The flesh is soft and sweet. There is one large dark shiny seed. It has a scar along it. The flesh of the fruit is edible.

There is one Inhambanella species. It is in Africa.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows between sea level and 500 m above sea level. It grows in lowland rain-forest. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flesh of the fruit is eaten.

Fruit are especially liked by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Fruit are collected from the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Cambo, Iao, Inhambanella, M'piau, M'piavu, Mkungupwa, Mkungu-wazimu, Msidundazi, Msikundazi, Rombe

Synonyms

Mimusops henriquesii Engl. & Warb.; Lecomtedoxa henriquesii (Engl. & Warb.) A. Meeuse;