Diospyros dichrophylla

(Gand.) De Winter

Common star-apple

Ebenaceae Edible: Fruit, Caution, Seeds - coffee Potential hazards — see below 2,800 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Diospyros dichrophylla (Gand.) De Winter (known as the "poison star-apple" or "Bostolbos") is a Southern African tree belonging to the ebony family of Ebenaceae and closely related to the Persimmon (Diospyros kaki).

Description

A shrub or small tree. Young plant parts are densely hairy. The leaves are alternate. The blades are sword shaped or narrowly oval. They taper to the base. The edges are slightly curved backwards. The leaves are 5 cm long by 1 cm wide. The flowers occur singly. The flower stalk is 2 cm long. The flowers are cream of white. The fruit are round. They are 2.5 cm across. They are densely velvety.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten as a snack, and the seeds are used as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

Caution: Some claim the fruit is poisonous. The fruit is eaten as a snack. The seeds are used for coffee.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Some sources claim the fruit is poisonous.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, St Helena, Swaziland,

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	68.2	495	118	1.3	—	36.3	1.3	0.3

Synonyms

Royena dichrophylla Gand.

Also Known As

Jakkalstolle, Poison star-apple, Tolbos, Umbhongisa, Unchafutane lomnyama

References (10)

De Vynk, J. C., et al, 2016, Indigenous edible plant use by contemporary Khoe-San descendants of South Africa's Cape South Coast. South African Journal of Botany. 102 (2016) 60-69
INFOODS:FAO/INFOODS Databases
Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
Ogle & Grivetti, 1985,
Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 105

Show all 10 references

Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 52
Shava, S., 2000, The Use of Indigenous Plants as Food by a Rural Community in the Eastern Cape: an Educational Exploration. Masters Thesis Rhodes University. p 63
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
Wehmeyer, A. S, 1986, Edible Wild Plants of Southern Africa. Data on the Nutrient Contents of over 300 species
Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179