Sand drypetes, Lowveld drypetes, Lowveld iron plum
Drypetes mossambicensis
Family: Putranjivaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 3-20 m high. The stem is whitish grey. The bark is cracked into small squares and sometimes flakes off. The leaves are dark shiny green. The leaves are oval and the base of the leaf is unequal. Leaves are 9 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. The flowers are small and green to yellow. They occur in clusters in the axils of the leaves. Male and female flowers are on different trees. The fruit is round and 1.3 cm long. The fruit is smooth.
There are about 200 Drypetes species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in low altitude woodland and on rocky outcrops. It can be on termite mounds. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 760 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw.
The fruit are popular.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds ?
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Changuare, Murocorre, Musyosyo, Water ironplum