Synsepalum brevipes

Synsepalum brevipes is a shrub or medium-sized to large tree in the family Sapotaceae, that is native to the African tropics and subtropics.

Description

A small to large evergreen tree. It can grow from 3 to 35 m tall. It has a dense crown and fluted trunk. There are often buttresses at the base. The bark is grey and rough and flakes into rectangular scales. It secretes a white sap. The leaves are dark green and oval but tapering to the base. They are shiny on the upper surface and slightly hairy on the lower surface. The young leaves and stalks are densely hairy. There are 8-14 side veins on each side. Leaves vary from 9 to 20 cm long and 3.5 to 8 cm wide. The leaf stalk can be 1 cm long. A pair of 1 cm long leaf like stipules persist at the base of the leaf stalk. The flowers are yellowish white and have a smell. They are in thick clusters below the leaves in small cushions on bar branches. The fruit are small and rusty green. They are hairy berries 3 cm long and 2.4 cm across. The fruit have a thick skin but are soft and acid sweet. They are edible. The one seed is shiny brown with a large scar on one side.

Edible Uses

The pulp of ripe fruit is eaten raw. Ripe fruit can be soaked in water, squeezed, filtered, and combined with sugar to make a drink. The seeds are eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. The ripe fruit are soaked in water, squeezed and filtered and sugar added then used as a drink. The seeds are eaten raw.

Medicinal Uses

A root decoction is taken to treat malaria and as an aphrodisiac. Sap from the roots and bark is drunk to treat coughs, colds, hernia and stomach complaints. A bark decoction is drunk to treat swellings. The leaves are used against hookworm infection of the small intestine. The fruit pulp is used to treat jaundice and nausea. The latex from the fruit is applied as a galactagogue.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It occurs in lowland rainforests in East Africa. It suits humid locations. It occurs from sea level to 1,500 m altitude. Occasionally it grows to 1,600 m. It grows in areas with rainfalls from 1,000 mm to 2,000 mm. It grows in areas with temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. It occurs in areas where there is a high permanent water table. It can be in seasonally flooded forest.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants grow naturally from seed. To extract the seed the ripe berries should be crushed and the seed removed. The seed should be soaked in cold water for 12 hours before planting.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak in warm water for 12 hours or scarify by lightly abrading the seedcoat, being careful not to damage the embryo. In tests, germination started after 8 - 25 days, and the germination percentage was high. Seeds can be stored for some time in sealed containers in a cool place.

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish brown, the sapwood pale brown to reddish yellow. The wood is hard, heavy and durable. It planes easily and smoothly; splits easily and does not take nails; and is not well suited for turning. It is used for pestles, tool handles, stakes, seats, canoes and domestic utensils. The wood is used for fuel and making charcoal.

Production

Trees are slow growing. Ripe fruit are harvested from the tree. Fruiting is seasonal. Flowering occurs in May, August and December. Ripe fruit are available October to February. The flowering and fruiting period is therefore long.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Abam sanaga goyoum, Aframsua, Amabiama, Bokokolo, Ikokolo, Koolo, Maambia, Maambwa, Mchamvia, Mchocha, Mchocha mke, Mgelezi, Miriaculo, Mkarati, Mpimbi, Mpimbinyolo, Mpuso, Msambia, Msambicho, Msamvia, Msuwi, Mumbu, Munoa, Nampilidji, Ndobilobe, Okokoolo, Pachystela, Peliche, Tokokoolo, Umpudo

References (37)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 48
• Atato, A., et al, 2010, Diversity of Edible Wild Fruit Tree Species of Togo. Global Science Books. (As Pachystela brevipes)
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 5. Kew. (As Synsepalum brevipes (Bak.) Pennington)
• Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 203
• Codjia, J. T. C., et al, 2003, Diversity and local valorisation of vegetal edible products in Benin. Cahiers Agricultures 12:1-12 (As Pachystela brevipes)

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