Wild loquat, Masuku
Uapaca kirkiana

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 5-6 m high. It can be 13 m high. It has a rounded crown. The bark is dark grey and rough. The leaves are scattered or clustered at the tips of branches. They are oval and 11 cm long by 11 cm wide. They are thickly leathery. The upper surface is dark green and shiny. The lower surface has rust coloured woolly hairs. The male and female flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit is round and rusty-yellow. They are 3-4 cm across. They are fleshy with a rather hard skin. The flesh is edible.

16 species of edible fungi are associated with this tree.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. It occurs at medium altitudes in open woodland. It can be dominant on gravelly soils. It grows between 720-1,950 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 500-1,300 mm. It needs a temperature in the range 14°-29°C. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The flesh of the fruit is eaten. The dried fruit have a toffee like flavour. The fruit are used for jam. It can be used for cakes that are fried and eaten. The juice of the fruit is mixed with sorghum meal to form a porridge. They are fermented into wine.

The fruit are delicious. It is a significant fruit. They are sold in local markets. The wine is sold in supermarkets. The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique and Malawi.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds need to be planted fresh. It can be grown from root suckers. It can be cut back and will re-grow. When fertilized or manured, survival and early growth of the tree is reduced. It can be grown by grafting.

Trees from seed can reach 1.3 m after 4 years. The fruit are kept in the dark for a few days after picking to ripen. In Tanzania ripe fruit are collected from October to January. Fruit can be collected from the ground.

Its other names

Local names

Hekela msuku, Kanono, Macunapa, Mahobohobo, Makusu, Masuku, Matue, Mazhenje, Mesange, Mguhu, Mgulu, Mgusu, Mikusu, Mkusu, Mompangwe, Msuku, Mtjunku, Mtoto, Muguhu, Musukuti, Muzhenje, Umugusu

Synonyms

Uapaca albida De Wild.; Uapaca dubia De Wild.; Uapaca goetzei Pax; Uapaca greenwayi Suesseng.; Uapaca homblei De Wild.; Uapaca kirkiana var. - several; Uapaca neomasuku De Wild.; Uapaca teusczii Pax.;