Dobera loranthifolia Warb. ex Harms

A much-branched evergreen tree, 5–15 m. tall, with a bushy crown; bark variable, black and flaky, pale grey, fissured and rough, or, less often, grey and smooth.. Leaves opposite; lamina thin or subcoriaceous, elliptic, obovate or more usually diamond-shaped, rarely almost round, 1.5–9.2(–10) cm. long, 1.2–4.4(–7.3) cm. wide, mostly acute, shining and quite glabrous or glaucous with a covering of minute glandular papillae on the lower surface; venation nearly always prominent and reticulate; petiole 4–5 mm. long.. The leaves frequently bear small hard pea-shaped galls which are very characteristic.. Flowers small, greenish-white or white, ± 3 mm. long, in axillary and terminal panicles.. Calyx minutely papillate.. Staminal tube sometimes with small teeth alternating with the upper free parts of the filaments.. Ovules paired in the ovary but only 1 develops in the fruit.. Fruit ellipsoid, 1–1.4(–1.6) cm. long, 7–10 mm. across.. Seeds dark, ovoid, somewhat compressed, 9–11 mm. long, 6–7 mm. across.. Fig. 2/1–10, p. 5.

In Kenya it grows between sea level and 800 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

The fruit are eaten after repeated boiling.