Sapotaceae

Manilkara sansibarensis

Mngambo

Canopy/Emergment Tree

Common species

Size

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About

Manilkara sansibarensis is a medium-sized evergreen tree, growing up to 25 metres tall, with a bushy crown. It features rough, grey-brown-black bark that exudes white latex when cut. Its stiff, dull green leaves are simple and oblong, up to 14 cm long with rounded or notched tips and parallel side veins. The tree produces small, fragrant, green-white flowers in clusters, followed by tough, round or oval berries, up to 1.3 cm in diameter, containing 1-4 shiny flat seeds and a sweet, edible pulp.

Where it works in Kilifi

This indigenous tree is well-suited for coastal Kilifi gardens and landscapes, thriving in deep coastal red sandy soils. It can be planted as a prominent specimen or for providing ample shade, as it naturally occurs in lowland forests, coastal bushlands, and dry evergreen woodlands up to 300 metres above sea level.

Growing notes

Manilkara sansibarensis can be propagated from seedlings or cuttings; seeds benefit from a 24-hour cold water soak for good germination. Once established, it is notably resilient, thriving in conditions ranging from lowland rainforest to coastal bushlands and even arid areas.

Sources

Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, worldagroforestry.org, helloplants.org, jstor.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.