Common Name:

General Information

Drypetes natalensis is a shrub or a tree with upright branches that spread to form a dense rounded crown; it usually grows up to 9 metres tall, occasionally to 15 metres. The bole can be 30cm in diameter and unbranched for up to 4.5 metres[]. A cauliflorous plant, flowering on the main trunk and branches[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. It is sometimes grown to provide shade[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern and southern Africa - southern Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Dry evergreen and riverine forest; often in rocky places; rarely in wetter forests; semi-deciduous forest; also on sands; gully and coastal forest; woodland and dune thickets; at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	7.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The pulp is edible[]. The yellow-brown to orange, subglobose fruit is around 27mm long, 33mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the stem bark and leaves is taken to reduce fever in patients with malaria[].

Other Uses

The wood is used to make wooden spoons, tool handles and beds[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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