Potato plum of Mysore
Scolopia crenata

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows up to 18 m tall. The tree and branches can have thorns. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blade is 6-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. It is narrowly oval to sword shaped and tapers to the tip. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves. They are white and there are many stamens. The fruit are round berries 2 cm across. There are 2-6 seeds.

There are 37-40 Scolopia species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests up to 1,800 m above sea level in India. It Nepal it grows up to 800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andaman Islands, Asia, China, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Nepal, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In south India it flowers and fruits October to April.

Its other names

Local names

Adikejaple, Charalu, Cheruchaliru, Dodd-dajaapaalahaple, Heccaralu, Hitterlu, Japle, Kodalimara, Kodalli, Kokkari, Malekakkade, Purushahesari, Sarel, Sarelmarom

Synonyms

Flacourtia crenata Wall.; Flacourtia sapida Wall.; Phoberos crenatus Wight & Arn.; Scolopia wightiana Clos; and others