Uapaca kirkiana

Uapaca kirkiana, the sugar plum or mahobohobo, is a species of dioecious plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to the southern Afrotropics, where it occurs in well-watered miombo woodlands. Within range it is one of the most popular wild fruits. It is rarely cultivated but trees are left when land is being cleared. Still a traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has the potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care. In Shona, the fruit are referred to as mazhanje, and in Chichewa masuku.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is fleshy, sweet, and considered delicious. Commonly eaten fresh and highly regarded, it can also be used to brew a pleasant wine or made into fried cakes. The juice mixes with sorghum meal to form a thin, orange-flavoured porridge. The fruit pulp is juicy, honey-like, and somewhat reminiscent of pears, while dried fruits take on a toffee-like flavour. Each fruit measures approximately 4cm × 4cm.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

An infusion made from the roots is used to treat indigestion and dysentery.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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

Cultivation

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.

Propagation

Seed must be sown fresh as viability lasts only about 3 weeks. Germination is generally good, particularly if the seed is scarified first. Young seedlings require some shade. Division of suckers is also possible, as are cuttings.

Other Uses

The tree is planted for erosion control, shade, shelter, living fences, and as an ornamental. It forms a mutual association with mycorrhizae, acting as a soil improver and making it a valuable agroforestry tree. A blue dye is obtained from the roots. Leaves are used as a cockroach repellent in homes. The wood has white sapwood and reddish-brown, figured heartwood. It is light, hard, and durable with a straight grain that saws cleanly, planes to a smooth finish, glues well, holds nails firmly, and takes a clear varnish. It is termite resistant and suited to general carpentry, house building, domestic utensils, furniture, joinery, carvings, and boxes. The wood is used as fuel and for making charcoal — the charcoal produced is highly regarded, and many trees are felled specifically for this purpose.

Production

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.

Other Information

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.

Notes

16 species of edible fungi are associated with this tree.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (41)

• Akinnifesi F. K., et al, 2008, Early growth and survival of three miombo woodland fruit tree species under fertilizer, manure and dry-season irrigation in southern Malawi. Forest Ecology and Management 255:546-557
• Bunderson, W. T. et al, 2002, Common Agroforestry Species in Malawi. Malawi Agroforestry Extension Project, Pubication No. 46, Lilongwe. p 8
• Bvenura, C. & Sivakumar, D., 2017, The role of wild fruits and vegetables in delivering a balanced and healthy diet. Food Research International 99 (2017) 15–30
• Campbell, B. M., 1987, The Use of Wild Fruits in Zimbabwe. Economic Botany 41(3): 375-385
• Davis, S.D., Heywood, V.H., & Hamilton, A.C. (eds), 1994, Centres of plant Diversity. WWF. Vol 1. p 244

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