Diospyros mespiliformis

Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC.

Common names

Jackal berry, African ebony (English); mchenja (Bemba, Bisa, Kunda, Nyanja, Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A large evergreen tree up to 25 m tall with a dense, rounded crown. Bark dark grey to almost black, rough and flaky with longitudinal fissures. Young branchlets covered with pinkish velvety hairs. Leaves simple, alternate, leathery, typically 8 x 2.5-3 cm; leaves oblong-elliptic, glossy dark green above, paler below, almost hairless. Young leaves are red in colour. Petiole up to 1 cm long. Flowers dioecious, the two sexes found on different trees; the males have short stalks and occur in clusters, the females are usually solitary. Flowers cream to pale yellow, approximately 1.2 cm in diameter. Floral parts in 4s or 5s. Flowers produced in the axils of the leaves (October to November). Fruit a yellow to orange, edible berry, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, hairy when young but becoming glabrous as it ripens, with 4-5 persistent calyx lobes up to 1.5 cm long, and containing 3-4 glossy brown, rugose seeds. Fruits ripen July to September.

Range and habitat

Diospyros mespiliformis is primarily associated with riverine fringe vegetation and alluvium. It occurs throughout southern and Africa and the Zambezian region. One of the most beautiful and common trees on the alluvial areas of the Luangwa River, Diospyros mespiliformis frequently forms monospecific groves without undergrowth that are a feature of the Valley. The largest and most spectacular ebony grove is on the west bank of the Luangwa River a short distance downstream from the Mwamba River confluence. This grove is about two km in length.