Uapaca paludosa
Family: Phyllanthaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows to 20 m high. It has stilt roots. It loses its leaves during the year. The crown is dense and the branches are low. The leaves are arranged alternately. They are crowded near the ends of branches. The leaves are very large. They are 16-50 cm long by 10-25 cm wide. They are softly hairy underneath. Male and female trees are separate. Male flowers are in round heads. These are 8-10 mm across. Female flowers occur singly. The fruit is round and fleshy. They are about 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are green but turn brown. There are 3 stones with one seed in each.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in swamps and near lakes. In Tanzania it grows between 600-1,400 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, CAR, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit is eaten. The seeds are discarded. It tastes like avocado. The fruit is squeezed into water to make a drink.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It is grown from fresh seed. It can be cut back and allowed to re-grow.
The fruit are collected throughout the year.
Its other names
Local names
Alokoba, Assam, Dambrohia, Kuntan-nua, Mchenza msitu, Mchenza mwitu, Rikio, Sengui1, Ujobe