Shittamwood, Buskthorn Bumelia, Buckthorn bully
Sideroxylon lycioides

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It is shiny. It grows 6 m high. The crown is spreading and open. The trunk is 15 cm across. The bark is reddish brown and thin and smooth. The leaves are alternate or clustered on short side twigs. The leaves are pointed and 5-12 cm long by 1.2-3 cm wide. They do not have hairs. The leaves are sword shaped and widest beyond the middle. They taper to the base. They are shiny green above and paler underneath. The flowers are white and in clusters. They are 3 mm wide. They are bell shaped. The fruit are purple-black berries. They are 12 mm long. There is one large seed. The fruit pulp is edible but bitter.

There are about 25 Bumelia species. The Bumelia may be merged with the Sideroxylon.

Where it is found

It grows along sandy creek banks and in drier forests. It grows up to 300 m altitude in the southern USA. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Bumelia lycioides (L.) Pers.; and others