African Mangosteen

livingstonei: named after the legendary Scottish explorer David Livingstone (1813-1873)

Shrub to medium-sized tree. Main branches typically stiff and rigid, rising almost straight up and somewhat arching; lateral branches whorled in 3's at right angles; pale yellow sap usually present. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3, oblong, elliptic or ovate, 4-14 cm, leathery, dark glossy green above, paler below, midrib and lateral veins, distinctly paler but not ridged; margin entire, rolled under, rarely shallowly crenate. Flowers in clusters on short spur-branchlets along the older stems, greenish-yellow. Fruits fleshy, subspherical, c. 2.5 cm in diameter, yellow to orange when ripe, edible.

West Africa; East Africa; South-central Africa (Senegal to Nigeria; Ethiopia and Uganda to KwaZulu-Natal, Botswana, Namibia and Angola)