About Sarcomphalus mistol (Griseb.) Hauenschild
Sarcomphalus mistol, commonly called mistol, varies greatly in height. Most individuals reach 4 to 9 meters tall, though some can grow as large as 10 to 15 meters. Trunk diameter is also variable, ranging from 20 to 60 centimeters. Its abundant branches are pubescent, arranged in a zig-zag pattern, and have spines located near the leaves. This species has semi-deciduous foliage. The leaves of mistol are oval-shaped, alternate, and entire, with three prominent basal veins. They measure 2–7 cm long and have short petioles. It flowers in late spring, from October to December, and produces fruit from November to March. The fruit is an edible roughly spherical drupe, colored reddish-hazel, and 1–5 cm long. Ripe fruit tastes sweet and sugary, with a distinct bitterness. Mistol wood is very tough, heavy, and long-lasting, which led to its early confusion with wood from plants of the genus Schinopsis. This wood is often used for hand tools and carriage wheels, and is less frequently used to make slow-burning coal.
