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 Edit this 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".[4] As well as being a bush food, the seeds are occasionally used in seed jewellery for sale to tourists in the region.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Sersalisia sericea (Aiton) R.Br". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Sersalisia sericea". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ Simpson, Donald. "Sersalisia sericea". Some Magnetic Island Plants. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. ^ Garde, Murray. "mandangnud". Bininj Kunwok Online Dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 5 Nov 2021.