Sand jackal tree, Sand jackal-berry
Diospyros batocana

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It is often twisted and crooked. It grows to 7 m high. The bark is dark grey. It is rough and cracked. The leaves are oval. They are 5-10 cm long by 2.2-4.5 cm wide. They are leathery. The leaves are glossy dark green above and dull pale green underneath. The edges are rolled under. The leaf stalk is 3-8 cm long. The flowers are creamy white. There can be violet tinges. They are 1.5 cm long with a sweet scent. The flowers occur in clusters on old wood. The fruit are oval or round and fleshy. They are 4 cm across. They have short, soft, brown hairs when young. Fruit are orange when mature.

There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows at low altitude in hot woodland. It grows between 900-1,525 m above sea level. It grows on sands. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They are eaten as a famine food by adults. They can be boiled. The leaves are poisonous but are laid over millet being fermented into beer to improve the flavour.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Batoka diospyros, Monjongolo, Muchenje, Mufumbo, Mukwi, Munjongolo, Muntufita

Synonyms

Diospyros odorata Hiern. ex Greves; Diospyros odorata var. rhodesiana Rendle; Diospyros xanthocarpa Gurke;