Sersalisia sericea

Sersalisia sericea, also known as wild prune, mangarr, and mongo is a species of shrubs or small trees, of the plant family Sapotaceae They grow naturally in monsoon forest, littoral rainforest and occasionally in more open forest types across Northern Australia.[1][2]

Sersalisia sericea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Sersalisia
Species:
S. sericea
Binomial name
Sersalisia sericea
(Aiton) R.Br.
Synonyms

Pouteria sericea

Sersalisia sericea grows to 6 metres tall, although it may produce fruit as a shrub of 1 metre. The plant is characterised by the densely, rusty brown hairs that cover the buds and young leaves. Clusters of small green-white flowers are followed by succulent, dark purple fruit, containing one or occasionally two seeds. The fruit are succulent and edible.[3]

The Kunwinjku people of Western Arnhem Land call the plant and fruit "mandangnud". As well as being a bush food, the seeds are occasionally used in seed jewellery for sale to tourists in the region.

References
  1. "Sersalisia sericea (Aiton) R.Br". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  2. Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Sersalisia sericea". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  3. Simpson, Donald. "Sersalisia sericea". Some Magnetic Island Plants. Retrieved 14 May 2013.


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