Oval kei apple, Apricot sourberry
It is a subtropical plant. It occurs in light shrub and woodland. It grows from near sea level to 1600 m altitude in South Africa. It is drought resistant. It can withstand light frost except when young.
Also known as:
Mabambana, Munhungura, Musvisvirondo, Mutu, Skokwari, Transvaal wild apricot, Umabambambane, Umnyazuma, Umqokolo
Synonyms
- Aberia zeyheri Sonder
- Aberia tristis Sonder
- Dovyalis tristis (Sonder) Warb.
Edible Portion
- Fruit
Where does Oval kei apple grow?
Found in: Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 22 Dovyalis species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.
Growing Oval kei apple, Apricot sourberry
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds should be collected from ripe fruit off a tree. They should be dried in a shady spot then planted. Seeds germinate in 8-14 days. Seedlings can be transplanted after watering well.
Edible Uses: The flesh of the fruit is edible but sour. It can be eaten raw or made into jelly and jam. It is also used for wine.
Production: Plants have a moderate growth rate. Plants can fruit after 3 years.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
H. G. A. Engler & K. A. E. Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(6a):44. 1893 (Also as Dovyalis tristis)
Fox, F. W. & Young, M. E. N., 1982, Food from the Veld. Delta Books. p 229
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 133 (Also as Dovyalis tristis)
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 641
Palmer, E and Pitman, N., 1972, Trees of Southern Africa. Vol. 3. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town p 1565
Plowes, N. J. & Taylor, F. W., 1997, The Processing of Indigenous Fruits and other Wildfoods of Southern Africa. in Smartt, L. & Haq. (Eds) Domestication, Production and Utilization of New Crops. ICUC p 190
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 194 (As Doryalis)
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 432
Tredgold, M.H., 1986, Food Plants of Zimbabwe. Mambo Press. p 99
Van Wyck, B., & Van Wyck, P, 1997, Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik. p 126
van Wyk, Be., & Gericke, N., 2007, People's plants. A Guide to Useful Plants of Southern Africa. Briza. p 42
van Wyk, B-E., 2011, The potential of South African plants in the development of new food and beverage products. South African Journal of Botany 77 (2011) 857–868
Venter, F & J., 2009, Making the most of Indigenous Trees. Briza. p 136
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
www.zimbabweflora.co.zw 2011