Scolopia zeyheri

Scolopia zeyheri is an evergreen, much-branched shrub or tree usually growing to about 13 –25 metres. Its named after Carl Zeyher, 1799 - 1858, a German naturalist.

Description

A spiny shrub or small tree. It can grow to 7 m tall. The bark is light grey and smooth. It becomes dark with age and rough and peeling in flakes. There are usually spines on the small branches. The leaves vary in shape. The can be sword shaped or round. They are 2-8 cm long by 1-3.5 cm wide. The are leathery and dark green above but paler underneath. The flowers are small and white or yellow. The fruit is almost round and a berry. It has a style at the tip. It is about 5-10 mm across.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The fleshy fruit has a sweet flavour and is eaten as a snack. The rounded fleshy berries are 5 - 10mm in diameter, turning black when fully ripe.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are fleshy and eaten raw. They are sweet.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 2,400 m altitude in South Africa. It is on the edge of evergreen forest and in open woodland. It grows in rocky and sandy soil. It is often on termite mounds. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Other Uses

The wood is heavy, hard and close-grained. It is used for wagon work, fellies, axles, spokes, tool handles, poles etc. The wood is used for fuel.

Production

Fruit are collected during the rainy season.

Notes

Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Doringrooipeer, Kikongoo, Litungu, Mgogola, Mgola, Msona, Mtwampara, Mtwi-wa-mpaa, Muvhambanguvho, Mywampara, N'tudza, Xitsango

References (16)

• Glover et al, 1981,
• Grivetti, L. E., 1980, Agricultural development: present and potential role of edible wild plants. Part 2: Sub-Saharan Africa, Report to the Department of State Agency for International Development. p 44
• Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 161
• Magwede, K., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Wyk, A. E., 2019, An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 57–89
• Msuya, T. S., et al, 2010, Availability, Preference and Consumption of Indigenous Foods in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 49:3, 208-227

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