Mimusops bagshawei
Family: Sapotaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 40 m tall. The trunk is straight. The bark is brown. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaf blade is small and 6-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are oval and wedge shaped. The flowers are in groups of 2-4 in the axils of leaves. They hang down and have a scent. They are green to yellow. The fruit are oval and yellow to orange. They are 2.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. There are 1-3 brown seeds.
There are 41-55 Mimusops species. They occur in tropical Africa.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in lowland and mountain forests. In Tanzania it grows between 1,100-2,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Kenya, South Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
How it is used for food
The soft inner part of the bark is used as a relish in soup. The ripe fruit are eaten. The seeds are discarded.
Edible parts
Fruit, bark
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Abit, Leliat, Mgambo, Msali, Olalwait