Berchemia discolor

Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsley

Common names

Bird plum (English); mtachi, mutachi (Bemba, Kunda); munzi (Kunda, Nyanja); munziyi, nziyi (Tumbuka)

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A semi-deciduous, medium sized tree, up to 15 m high, with a dense, rounded crown. Bark rough, flaking in large pieces. Branchlets green, smooth. Leaves simple, opposite or sub-opposite, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, up to 8 cm long, shiny dark green above, paler below with conspicuous lateral nerves extending to the leaf margin. Petiole often reddish. Flowers small, greenish yellow, produced in cymes (October-January). Fruit an oblong, fleshy, edible drupe, up to 2 x 1 cm, ripening yellow (April-June).

Range and habitat

Berchemia discolor occurs throughout the Zambezian region in Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and South Africa. In the valley it is found in riverine fringe woodland, thicket, on termite mounds and in mopane woodland on sand.