Dovyalis abyssinica

(A. Rich.) Warb.

Dovyalis (Abyssinian), African gooseberry

Salicaceae Edible: Fruit 342 iNaturalist observations

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Sebastián Ordóñez

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

An evergreen shrub reaching 6 meters tall with a spreading habit. Grows at a medium rate and thrives in well-drained soil across sandy, loamy, and clay types. Prefers mildly acid to neutral conditions and tolerates very acid soils. Requires full sun and moist soil. Hardy to UK zone 10.

Description

A medium sized shrub. It grows up to 10 m tall. It has many branches. The trunk is up to 20 cm thick. Young branches can have spines. The bark is grey brown. There are many raised lenticels. The leaves are oval and slender. They are 2.5-9 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The edges of the leaves can be wavy or jagged. Plants are separately male and female. Flowers are green. Male flowers are covered in soft hairs. They are in clusters in the axils of leaves. Female flowers occur singly. The fruit are small and orange. They are round and have pale dots. They are up to 2 cm across. The flesh is yellow. They are very acid and have a strong smell. The seeds are few and flat.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a thin, tender skin and juicy, melting flesh with a faint apricot-like aroma and flavour. When fully ripe it makes a very pleasant jelly, and measures about 25mm in diameter. The roots and stems are eaten in a tonic soup.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten fresh and used in jam. It is also used for jelly and fruit punch.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are pounded, soaked in water, and the resulting liquid is taken to treat indigestion. The roots are also used to treat indigestion and venereal disease.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to NE Africa. Plants grow between 1000 and 3000 m altitude in Ethiopia and between 2000 and 2700 m altitude in Kenya. A rainfall between 1000 and 1700 mm is probably suitable. It suits hot dry climates. It grows poorly on limestone soils.

Where It Grows

Africa, Cuba, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Middle East, Socotra, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia,

Cultivation

It can be grown by seed or cuttings. Fruit are normally picked from the tree. Fruits do not store well and bruise easily.

Propagation

Propagate by seed, layering, or by grafting and shield-budding desirable varieties onto seedling rootstocks.

Other Uses

The wood is hard and used for making tool handles, spoons, and bedsteads. It is also used as fuel.

Production

It takes 7-8 months between flowering and fruit maturity. In Tanzania fruit are collected from April to June.

Other Information

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Notes

The fruit are rich in Vitamin C. There are about 15-22 Dovyalis species. Most have edible fruit. They are mostly in Africa and Sri Lanka. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Synonyms

Aberia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Hochst.Dovyalis engleri Gilg.Roumea abyssinica A. Rich.

Also Known As

Abyssinian gooseberry, Aihada, Akoku, Akudho, Ankakute, Dhugoo, Gibin, Imolo, Kimukiet, Kinokuet, Korqiicho, Koshim, Koshimii, Koshum, Kudah, Limoro, Longo, Mahhahhari, Mbuchi, Mgola, Mmango, Mnzuyuyu, Msambwa, Muirungi, Mukambura, Mundariwa, Mundililwa, Nokok, Nukchat, Ol-morogi, Ongolatz, Sangana, Songla, Songola

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