Round-fruited red milkwood
Mimusops obtusifolia

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It has many stems. It can be 2-20 m tall. The bark is grey to blackish. It is rough and cracked. The leaves are oval or almost round. They are 4-10 cm long. They are softly leathery. They are dark green and shiny above and with grey hairs underneath. The young leaves and twigs have rusty brown hairs. The flowers are in small clusters in the axils of leaves. They are creamy-white. They are 1 cm across. The fruit is fleshy and almost round. It is 2.5 cm long ad orange-red when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on coastal scrub, forests along rivers and on termite mounds. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 800 m above sea level. In Kenya it grows in coastal areas in dry coastal forest. It is often near sand dunes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Comoros, East Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw as a snack. The seeds are discarded.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Tanzania the fruit are collected from November to January.

Its other names

Local names

Chibabava, Mfuma, Mgama, Mghambo, Mugama-muho, Museaxadgi, Mussonco, Salazi, Tingole, Tututo

Synonyms

Mimusops fruticosa A. DC.; Mimusops kirkii Baker;