Northern galla-plum
Haplocoelum foliolosum

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A straggling shrub or small tree. It grows 8-10 m high. It loses its leaves in the dry season. The bark on old trees peels off leaving light coloured patches. The leaves are arranged in spirals or clustered on small spurs. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 3-16 pairs of small leaflets. These are 2 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are unequal on each side. The flowers are in small clusters in the axils of leaves. They are cream coloured. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The fruit are orange or red. They are almost round and 15 mm long and wide. They are edible. There is one seed. It has a fleshy layer around it.

There are a few species of Haplocoelum. They occur in Africa.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and mid altitude rainforest. It suits humid locations. It can be on termite mounds and rocky places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw and also boiled.

The fruit are sometimes eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bungwe, Canaa, Cizoro, Imijwiri, Imurguti, Katezi, Malkat, Mhale, M'kalandja, Mumumi, Mukumu, Nakisungu

Synonyms

Balsamea foliolosa Hiern.; Haplocoelum dekindtiana (Engl.) Radlk.; Haplocoelum gallense (Engl.) Radlk.; Haplocoelum mombasense Bullock; Pistaciopsis dekindtiana Engl.;