Mimusops caffra E.H.Mey. ex A.DC., Sapotaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 2 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: coastal red milkwood

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Much-branched evergreen shrub or small tree 1-5 (12) m. tall. Young stems greyish or ferrugineous appressed-pubescent, older branches glabrous with striated grey bark. Leaves very leathery. Lamina 3-9 x 1ú8-4ú3 cm., cordate or broadly to narrowly obovate with apex slightly emarginate or rarely rounded-acute; base acute; margin thickened, slightly revolute; petiole 7-16 mm. long. Midrib slightly raised on both surfaces, other nerves faint. Upper leaf surface appressed-pubescent when young, soon glossy, glabrous, lower surface densely and minutely brownish or ferrugineous appressed-pubescent, rarely subglabrous. Flowers white, borne 1-8 in leaf axils; pedicels 1ú5-3 cm. long. Calyx c. 8 mm. long; lobes of outer whorl narrowly triangular, brownish-pubescent, those of inner whorl lanceolate, paler and more delicate than outer, with distinct median dorsal groove. Corolla equaling calyx, connate at base into a tube c. 1ú5 mm. long; median segments lanceolate with involute margins, lateral segments slightly shorter, each divided almost to the base into two narrowly triangular laciniae. Stamens c. 5 mm. long; filaments subulate, anthers c. 3-5 mm. long. Staminodes c. 3ú5 mm. long. Ovary c. 2ú5 mm. long; style c. 6ú5 mm. long. Fruit an edible plum-shaped berry up to 2ú5 cm. long, orange-red when ripe; fruiting calyx not reflexed; style persistent. Seed 10-13 mm. long"  (Flora Zambesiaca online).

Description from Flora of Mozambique.

Habitat/ecology:  "In coastal thickets"  (Flora Zambesiaca online).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mozambique and South Africa (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2005) (p. 520)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced	Randall, R. P. (2007) (p. 313)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Mimusops caffra, please let us know.