Scolopia mundii

(Eckl. & Zeyh.) Warb.

Red pear, Mountain saffron, Red thorn-pear

Salicaceae Edible: Fruit, Root Potential hazards — see below 286 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Scolopia mundii, the red pear or mountain saffron, is a tree in the family Salicaceae found in Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It has dark green foliage and bright yellow or orange berries. A very adaptable species, it can be found in forests, forest edges and mountain slopes from 30-2200m in elevation. While it is not considered threatened over its entire range, it is rare and considered Critically Endangered (CR) in Zimbabwe.

Description

A tree. It can be 9-25 m high and with a trunk 1.2 m across. The crown has spreading branches. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 2.5-8 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. They are oval or egg shaped. The edges of the leaves have sharp teeth. The leaf is dark glossy green above and paler underneath. Leaf stalks are often red. The flowers are small and greenish-white. The groups of flowers are in the axils of leaves. The fruit are 1.3 cm across. They are round with a wispy point. The fruit are yellow or orange when ripe.

Edible Uses

The fruit are kept for two days after harvesting before eating.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are kept for two days after harvesting then eaten. CAUTION: Some reports say the fruit are poisonous until kept to fully ripen.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

Some reports indicate the fruit are poisonous until fully ripened.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to about 1900 m altitude. It often grows on high rocky grassy slopes. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa*, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Notes

Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Synonyms

Eriudaphus mundii Eckl. & Zeyh.Eriudaphus serratus Harv.Phoberos mundii (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Harv.

References (15)

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Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 232
Long, C., 2005, Swaziland's Flora - siSwati names and Uses http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/
Palgrave, K.C., 1996, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. p 627
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 3. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 1547

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Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 99
Schmidt, E., Lotter, M., & McCleland, W., 2007, Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana Media p 436
Swaziland's Flora Database http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora
van Wyk, B, van Wyk, P, and van Wyk B., 2000, Photographic guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Briza. p 284
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von Breitenbach, F., 1985, Southern Cape Tree Guide. Department of Environment Affairs, Forestry Branch. Pamphlet 360 Pretoria p 22
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
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011