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Cassine peragua

L.

Cape cherry

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) songeziwe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Andrew Massyn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Andrew Massyn

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Heather and Andrew Hodgson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Heather and Andrew Hodgson

Cassine peragua, also known as Cape saffron, bastard saffron and forest spoonwood, is a medium-sized tree with fragrant flowers, decorative fruits and a saffron-coloured trunk. It is indigenous to the Afro-montane forests of South Africa.

Description

A small tree. It grows 2-5 m tall. It can be taller. The leaves are tough, round and leathery. They are usually dark green. The flowers are in small bunches. They have a strong scent. The fruit are berries that are green and darken to black or purple.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten as a snack.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten as a snack.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland,

Notes

There are 80 Cassine species. Most are in Africa.

Nutrition

PartMoisturekJkcalProteinVit AVit CIronZinc
Fruit85.7205491.110.2

Synonyms

Cassine capensis L.Cassine colpoon Thunb.Cassine kraussiana Bernh.Cassine kraussiana Hochst.Elaeodendron ilicifolium Ten.Euonymus colpoon L.and others

Also Known As

Umbhukhuze, Umboyi

References (6)

  • De Vynk, J. C., et al, 2016, Indigenous edible plant use by contemporary Khoe-San descendants of South Africa's Cape South Coast. South African Journal of Botany. 102 (2016) 60-69
  • INFOODS:FAO/INFOODS Databases
  • Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
  • Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 42
  • Wehmeyer, A. S, 1986, Edible Wild Plants of Southern Africa. Data on the Nutrient Contents of over 300 species
Show all 6 references
  • Welcome, A. K. & Van Wyk, B.-E., 2019, An inventory and analysis of the food plants of southern Africa. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 136–179

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