Parinari curatellifolia

Botanical Description

Mbola is an evergreen shrub or tree with a dense, mushroom-shaped crown; it can vary in height from around 3 metres up to a fairly large tree 20 metres tall, but is more likely to be around 8 - 10 metres. Branches are formed from low down the twisted bole, which can be 25 - 40cm in diameter[ 325 Title Seed Leaflets Publication Author Various Website http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title Publisher Forest & Landscape. Denmark Year 0 ISBN Description A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant. ]. The edible fruit is a very popular wild food in the areas where it grows, being especially valued by children[ 466 Title Useful Plants of Nyasaland Publication Author Williamson J. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher The Government Printer, Zomba, Nyasaland. Year 1955 ISBN Description Brief details of the uses of almost 500 species of plants. ]. The seeds are also gathered from the wild for local use, whilst the plant is utilized for its wood and medicinal virtues[ 307 Title Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. Publication Author Barwick. M. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London Year 2004 ISBN 0-500-51181-0 Description A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. ]. The seeds are sold in local markets[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ]. A valued tree in its native African range, it is one of the few trees that are left standing when forest is cleared for agriculture[ 308 Title Flora Zambesiaca Publication Author Website http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants. ]. It is also grown as an ornamental and to provide shade[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Local people believe that the tree hisses if it is cut[ 307 Title Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. Publication Author Barwick. M. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London Year 2004 ISBN 0-500-51181-0 Description A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. ].