Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss.

A deciduous tree. It grows to about 6-20 m high. The bark is greyish and has spines when young. The leaves are alternate and 6-15 cm long by 3.5-8 cm wide. They are oval and leathery. They taper to the tip. The base is rounded. There are many side veins. (15-20 pairs). They are parallel and distinct. The leaves are bright green but turn pink before falling. They are slightly hairy underneath. The flowers have short stalks. They are yellowish. They are clustered in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit has a stone inside. It is round and purplish-black when ripe. It is the size of a pea.

Quite common in forests and open land, reported from dry evergreen or deciduous forests; sandy-loamy soil, granite or basalt derived sandy soil, and limestone, at elevations from 50-600 metres, occasionally to 1,400 metres.

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They have a salty sour taste.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.