Parinari curatellifolia

Parinari curatellifolia
Scientific name	Parinari curatellifolia [1]
Common names	Mobola plum; mmupudu; mupundu [4]
Genus	Parinari
Family	Chrysobalanaceae [1]
Order	Malpighiales [2]
Growth form	Evergreen tree [3]
Native range	Tropical and southern Africa, extending to Madagascar [4]
Mature size	Up to about 20 m [3]
Climate and site	Open deciduous woodland and wooded grassland, often near rivers; also recorded from poorly drained sites [3]
Propagation	Orthodox seed; viability retained for more than two years [3]
Fruit	Oval to round, up to about 5 × 3.5 cm; orange-yellow when ripe [3]

Parinari curatellifolia is an accepted species in the family Chrysobalanaceae. It is an evergreen African tree of seasonal woodland with edible plum-like fruit. ^[1][3]

Description

The tree has rough, cork-like bark and leathery leaves with grey- to yellow-hairy undersides. It can reach about 20 m. The oval to round fruit grows to about 5 × 3.5 cm and turns orange-yellow when ripe. ^[3]

The species occurs in open deciduous woodland and wooded grassland, including sites near rivers. Its reported range covers tropical and southern Africa and extends to Madagascar. ^[3][4]

Cultivation

Soil and water

The species account records gritty sandy clay loams and friable red clays, and places the tree in woodland and wooded-grassland sites that may be poorly drained or near rivers. Those habitats are a starting point rather than a reason to keep roots permanently saturated: match moisture retention and drainage to the local planting site. The account also recommends watering plants until they are established, so newly planted specimens should not be allowed to dry out while their roots are settling. ^[3]

Sun and humidity

A habitat-based cultivation inference is to begin with bright, open light and good airflow, reflecting the species' occurrence in open deciduous woodland and wooded grassland. Young plants can be exposed gradually, while established plants should be protected from frost and cold winds, which are noted as sensitivities for the species. ^[3]

Seasonal changes

Flowering and fruit ripening can extend over long periods, and the species account gives about 9–10 months from fertilization to ripe fruit. In cultivation, keep moisture available during active growth and adjust irrigation as the local wet and dry or warm and cool periods change rather than applying a fixed calendar. Frost and cold-wind protection becomes especially important during the cooler part of the year. ^[3]

Propagation

The seeds are described as orthodox, with viability retained for more than two years; the account gives 250–350 seeds per kilogram. It describes field transfer after two years and cautions that the taproot is fragile, so root disturbance should be minimized. Watering is recommended until field-planted trees are established. Coppice shoots and root suckers after root wounding are also reported. ^[3]

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Flowering and fruit ripening may occupy long periods, with about 9–10 months from fertilization to ripe fruit. Ripe fruit is orange-yellow and plum-like, reaching about 5 × 3.5 cm. ^[3]

Fruit and uses

The fruit is used as a traditional food. Recorded preparations include eating it raw, making porridge, and preparing syrup-based or fermented drinks. ^[4][3]

Photos

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF Species Match: Parinari curatellifolia.

• ↑ [2] GBIF taxon record: Parinari curatellifolia.

• ↑ [3] Agroforestree Database 4.0: Parinari curatellifolia.

• ↑ [4] Parinari curatellifolia — Wikipedia.

Image credits

• Parinari curatellifolia (fruit).jpg — fruit of the Mupundu tree near the Kafue River near Kitwe, Zambia; creator Hans Hillewaert; CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons file page. Attribution: Hans Hillewaert.

• Mupundu (Parinari curatellifolia fruit) 01.jpg — fruits of the Mupundu tree in Lusaka, Zambia; creator Icem4k; CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons file page. Attribution: Icem4k; ShareAlike terms apply.