The open plant encyclopedia
Snap a photo or search by any name to see how to care for it, where it comes from, whether it's safe, and a 3D model you can turn.
The plants people record most in your country, and ones that grow there wild.
Filter by what you want to do, shape, origin, country, care and safety.
Parinari curatellifolia
Also called Muhacha, Sand Apple
Parinari curatellifolia is a large evergreen tree of tropical Africa and Madagascar, valued mainly for its edible plum-like fruit. It tolerates seasonally dry climates and poorly drained soils, and is seldom grown as an ornamental.
Parinari curatellifolia (Bambara: Tutu; Yoruba: Ìdòfún) is an evergreen tropical tree of Africa, found in various types of deciduous woodland most frequently in poorly drained areas and inland at moderate elevations. It is also known as mmupudu (by Tswana-speaking South Africans), mupundu or mobola plum after the fruit, which is considered tasty and causes the tree to be spared when woodland is cleared for cultivation.
It grows in the Guinean savanna region of West Africa, from Senegal across to Chad, then in seasonal woodland across the equator through Kenya and the eastern side of the continent, and from there in deciduous Miombo woodland inland to Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is also native to Madagascar. Its southernmost reach is just outside the tropics in the Northern Provinces]] of South Africa, at about 25°S.
A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare. The wood is very hard and heavy, for it contains silica crystals; it is therefore difficult to work, but unfortunately is not durable and so is little used, although it makes good charcoal. However, the main value of the tree is the delicious fruit, which appears early in the dry season and can be harvested over three or more months. It is used as a snack, and the kernel has a high oil content. The crushed pulp of the fruit is an ingredient in drinks, and since it ferments well, is often used to make alcoholic drinks as well.
Annamese Burada · Parinari argenteosericea · Parinari campestris · Parinari canarioides · Dwarf Mobola · Parinari costata · Parinari elmeri · Guinea Plum · Parinari klugii · Parinari metallica · Nonda plum · Parinari oblongifolia
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Parinari curatellifolia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
