Synsepalum msolo

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A medium to tall evergreen tree. It grows 20 to 50 m tall. It has a dense crown and deeply fluted trunk. The trunk can be 3 m across. The leaves occur one after another along the stalk. They can be 8 to 35 cm long and 3 to 14 cm wide. They are dark green and leathery. They are shiny and smooth on the upper surface and slightly hairy and silver underneath. Leaf shape varies. They tend to be oval. Flowers are small and greenish white. They have a smell. The flowers are clustered below the leaves on young branches. The fruit are small and green. They are almost round berries about 3 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. The fruit become yellow when ripe and have a milky juice. The fruit pulp is edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforests in East Africa. It suits humid locations. It grows between 80 m and 1400 m above sea level. It grows in areas with average rainfalls between 650 mm and 1750 mm. It grows in areas with temperatures between 16°C and 31°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The ripe fruit are also soaked in water, squeezed, filtered, sugar added and the juice drunk.

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants grow naturally from seed. Seed germination is good. Trees can be topped and this improves fruit quality.

Trees are slow growing. Ripe fruit are collected from the tree. Trees flower July, October and December with fruit ripe in February to April. It takes about 6 months from flowering to fruit maturing.

Its other names

Local names

Mohocho, Msambia, Msavia, Poki

Synonyms

Amorphospermum msolo (Engl.) Baehni; Chrysophyllum msolo (Engl.) Engl.; Pachystela bequaertii; Pachystela msolo (Engl.) Engl.; Pachystela ulugurensis Engl.; Pouteria msolo (Engl.) Mceuse;