Edible Plants of the World

Mobola plum

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical Africa. It is common on sandy soils and in open deciduous woodland. It is very sensitive to frost and cold. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 700-1,500 mm. It is often in poorly drained soils with a high water table. Plants can re-grow after fire. It grows in areas between sea level and 2,100 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa.

Also known as:

Amabuye, Amanazi, Angili, Bosapple, Bua-ikuna, Cork tree, Goro soulabe, Grys apple, Hacha, Hissing tree, Kele, Mah'ulu, Mampara-djom-ae, Maula, Mbula, Mbulwa, Mbura, Mmola, Mpembu, Msavula, Msawula, Mubola, Mubula, Mubuni, Muchacha, Muchakata, Muhacha, Muhatja, Muisha, Mujakata, Mukumbu, Mula, Munazi, Mupunda, Mupundu, Mushacata, Mutopio, Mutubi, Muvhula, Muwula, N'tupiu, Nahude, Naji, Ntja, Omoraa, Piinobga, Sand apple, Tela, Tonkorogoro, Tubi, Tupi, Umkhuna, Umunazi

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Mobola plum grow?

Found in: Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 50 Parinari species. They grow in the tropics.

Status: An attractive popular fruit. It is commonly used in West Africa. Fruit tend to be available in the drier more hungry season.

Growing Mobola plum

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds should be collected fresh from fruit on the tree. The flesh is removed and the seeds dried in the shade. The seeds are sown shallowly. The seedlings need to be transplanted carefully to avoid damage to the taproot. They can be transplanted after 2 years.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten. The fruit are gathered after they fall. The skin and seeds are discarded but the pulp eaten. The fruit are used to make drinks - both intoxicating and non intoxicating. The seeds are used for flavouring and as raw nuts. They are also pounded for soup.

Production: Trees from seed can reach 3.9 m after 9 years. Fruit production often only occurs every second year. Fruit matures in 250 days.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Fruit 84 0.7 - - - - 75.4
Fruit 128 1.6 0.9 - 70.9 0.4 64.6
Nuts 655 28.7 5.5 - - 3.1 2.6

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