Diospyros Embryopteris, Blanco.; Pers. India (Deccan): fruit eaten. Ref. WATT.
Diospyros mespiliformis, Hochst, ex A. DC. Kenya (Mbeere division, Embu
district): a gruel is made from the berry-like fruit. The fruit is reported
sweet, and both pulp and seeds are edible. Sudan
(Southern Kordofan):
fruit eaten fresh, or dried and reconstituted in times of food shortage.
Chemical composition (Sudan sample, after Abdelmuti): Protein (crude) = 3.0%
(dry). Fat = 0.9% )(dry). Fibre (crude) = 16.5% (dry). Ash = 4.5% (dry).
Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 6.1% (dry). Sucrose = 0% (dry). D-Glucose =
7.61% (dry). F-Fructose = 9.9% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1):
Aspartic acid = 5.7g. Threonine = 3.0g. Serine = 3.3g. Glutamic acid = 6.6g.
Proline = 7.6g. Glycine = 4.0g. Alanine = 3.3g. Valine = 4.3g. Cysteine = 1.0g.
Methionine = 1.0g. Isoleucine = 3.7g. Leucine = 5.0g. Tyrosine = 2.0g.
Phenylalanine = 3.3g. Lsyine = 4.0g. Histidine = 2.3g. Arginine = 4.0g.
Minerals: Sulphur = 0.05% (dry). Phosphorus = 0.11% (dry). Magnesium = 0.08%
(dry). Calcium = 0.37% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 1.51% (dry). Zinc =
5mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 192mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese =
5kg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 1mg/kg-1 (dry). Ethnomedical
use: juice mixed with that of Balanites aegyptiaca (q.v.), for childhood
colic and gastric troubles. Vernacular names - Kikuyu: mu
-Koro. Arabic: Gughan. Ref. ABDELMUTI, RILEY &
BROKENSHA.
Diospyros montana, Heyne, ex A. DC in DC; Roxb. India (Western Rajasthan): ripe fruit eaten. Bark and fruit are often pounded and then eaten. Ref. GUPTA & KANODIA.
Diospyros Tapurn, Ham. India (Bombay Presidency): pounded bark, and fruits eaten. Vernacular name - Panch Mahals district, Bombay Presidency:Timarva. Ref. GAMMIE.
Maba buxifolia, Pers. India (Madras Presidency): ripe fruit eaten. Vernacular names - Tamil: Erimbellie kai. Telugu: Pishanna. Ref. SHORTT, WATT.