Haplocoelum foliolosum

(Hiern) Bullock

Northern galla-plum

Sapindaceae Edible: Fruit 36 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A straggling shrub or small tree. It grows 8-10 m high. It loses its leaves in the dry season. The bark on old trees peels off leaving light coloured patches. The leaves are arranged in spirals or clustered on small spurs. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 3-16 pairs of small leaflets. These are 2 cm long by 1 cm wide. They are unequal on each side. The flowers are in small clusters in the axils of leaves. They are cream coloured. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The fruit are orange or red. They are almost round and 15 mm long and wide. They are edible. There is one seed. It has a fleshy layer around it.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw or boiled and are sometimes sold in local markets.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw and also boiled.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and mid altitude rainforest. It suits humid locations. It can be on termite mounds and rocky places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Other Information

The fruit are sometimes eaten.

Notes

There are a few species of Haplocoelum. They occur in Africa.

Synonyms

Balsamea foliolosa Hiern.Haplocoelum dekindtiana (Engl.) Radlk.Haplocoelum gallense (Engl.) Radlk.Haplocoelum mombasense BullockPistaciopsis dekindtiana Engl.

Also Known As

Bungwe, Canaa, Cizoro, Imijwiri, Imurguti, Katezi, Malkat, Mhale, M'kalandja, Mumumi, Mukumu, Nakisungu

References (17)

Bigirimana, C., et al, 2016, Utilisation of Indigenous Fruit Tree Species within the Lake Victoria Basin, Rwanda. Agricultural Science: An International Journal. (AGRIJ) Vol. 1, No. 1
Demise, S. & Asfaw, Z., 2020, Ethno Botanical Study of Wild Edible Plants in Adola District, Southern, Ethiopia. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) 7(2).
Emire, A., et al, 2021, Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Fruit Tree and Shrub Species in Adola Rede and Odo Shakiso Midland Districts of Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2021). 8(12): 96-109
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 59
Gemedo-Dalle, T., et al, 2005, Plant Biodiversity and Ethnobotany of Borana Pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia. Economic Botany 59(1) pp. 43-65

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