Description

A shrub or small tree to 6 m high occurring on the edge of dry deciduous forest, regrowth in humid forest and in the galleried soudanian forest of Senegal to Dahomey and also in Ubangi-Shari, Angola and Zambia.The stems are used as chew-sticks, and the leaves have been used in Sierra Leone for bilious complaints, and in decoction as a gargle for sores in the mouth in children (1). In Senegal pulped leaves are applied to sores and ulcers, and a leaf-decoction is used in the Casamance as a laxative and diuretic (4).The fruit is yellow ripening purple and is edible. It is sold in Freetown markets under the name ’damson’ because of its similarity to the temperate fruit. The pulp is a bit astringent (1–3).