Buchanania obovata Engl.

Shrub or tree to 15 m high. Branchlets rusty-villous or tomentose, glabrescent. Leaves obovate to oblong-obovate, obtuse, rounded or sometimes retuse, coriaceous, villous to glabrous; lamina mostly 5–25 cm long, 1.5–8 cm wide; base narrowly cuneate, decurrent; secondary veins mostly 13–21 pairs; tertiary veins scalariform-reticulate; petiole ±laterally ridged, 0.5–1.5 cm long. Panicles to 10 cm, rarely 18 cm long, villous or sparsely pilose; pedicels articulate just below base of calyx, there subtended by an ovate bract 1.8–2 mm long and 2 bracteoles 1–1.5 mm long. Calyx lobes broadly ovate, 0.8–1 mm long, pilose, ciliate. Petals oblong-elliptic, 3–3.8 mm long, mostly glabrous. Anthers 1.3–1.8 mm long; filaments 1.5–1.7 mm long. Carpels to 1.8 mm long; fertile one villous. Drupe c. 13 mm diam.

It is a tropical plant. An understorey tree in open forest. It grows on well-drained soils. It often grows along streams in dry areas. It is very frost sensitive. It grows best in humus rich, moist soils.

The fruit are eaten raw. Roots may be eaten after roasting and pounding.

Plants are grown from fresh seed. It can also be grown by cuttings.