Common Names: Large-seed Jackal Berry, Mukolofuma, Mukyengya, Muchenjelekete, Mukelekele, Mkulo, Muchenjakotowe
Family: Ebenaceae (Ebony Family)
 
Growth Form, Habitat and Distribution 
A medium-sized evergreen or semi-evergreen tree with spreading branches and an open crown. Occurs widely across Zambia except the south-west, most common in escarpment miombo and mopane woodland. Dissimilar to all other Diospyros species in Zambia except D. mespiliformis with which it can hybridise. 
Size     Height up to 11m but usually smaller, spread 6 to 8m.
Bark    Dark brown becoming black, fissured and scaly.
Leaves    Spirally arranged, large (>8cm), rounded, thick, velvety, dull green and hairy and brittle with 6 to 8 pairs of sub-parallel lateral nerves becoming thicker towards the midrib.
Flowers    Dioecious, fragrant, small, creamy to pinkish, hairy flowers September to December. 
Fruit     Yellow-green to orange, fleshy round fruits (3.5 cm) containing 4 brown seeds, July to October.
Uses    The fruits are edible with a refreshing sweet and floury taste. Cultivation for the fruit has been suggested. Makes a good shade tree in a garden.
Other species in Zambia: 16 other species and variants, adapted to both high and low rainfall areas. Some are suffrutices.