Dovyalis afra

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Dovyalis afra (Hook.f. & Harv.) Hook.f.

Family: Salicaceae

Common names: Kei-apple (Eng.); Kei-appel (Afr.); motlhono (North Sotho); umqokolo (Zulu); amaqokolo (Ndebele); mukokolo (Shona)

SA Tree No: 507

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Introduction

Dovyalis afra is a lovely evergreen fruit tree or shrub. It is one of the three Dovyalis species, together with D. zeyheri (wild apricot) and D. rhamnoides (common sour berry), which are of considerable importance as a source of income for some local communities in southern Africa. A trial planting of southern African fruit trees in a desert in Israel is also going to include this plant (Dovyalis afra). It is an attractive, drought- and frost-resistant tree or shrub.

Dovyalis caffra. Photo Geoff Nichols

Description

Description

Dovyalis afra is usually 3-5 m in height, but sometimes reaches 8 m with a much branched crown. It is a tree or spiny shrub of moderate growth rate that may be planted close together to form a good hedge. Creamy green flowers form in early summer (November to December). Male flowers are 3 mm long in dense clusters of 5-10 flowers. Female flowers are found in groups of up to three on stalks 4-10 mm long in leaf axils. The fruits are up to 60 mm in diameter and are yellowish-orange in colour.

Flowers. Photo Geoff Nichols

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

The Kei-apple grows in valley bushveld, dry areas, wooded grassland, on forest edges, from Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to Swaziland, into Limpopo and Zimbabwe.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

Dovyalis is a Greek word meaning spear. The species name was previously caffra, a name that was used in older botanical works to indicate that the plant was found along the southeastern seaboard of South Africa. Today this word is not used as it is an offensive slur and the species name is afra, meaning, 'of Africa'.

Ecology

Ecology

Insects and birds play a very important role in pollinating this tree. Birds such as the louries and the black-eyed bulbuls love the fruits of a Dovyalis afra, which are delicious. By eating the fruits, birds also help to distribute the seeds. Baboons, antelope and monkeys also like to eat the fruit.

Uses

Use

Dovyalis afra can be cultivated as a border or a screen, or used to form an impenetrable hedge around a garden to keep unwanted animals and people out.  It will grow well in either full sun or light shade, and will also need regular trimming in order to maintain a good hedge.  The leaves are used as fodder (bulk feed for livestock).  The fruits are edible, and make excellent jam.

Spiny barrier plant. Photo Geoff Nichols

Growing Dovyalis afra

Grow

The Kei-apple is easily propagated from seed. The fruits must be ripe before they are collected. The seed must be cleaned and dried in a shady spot before planting. They should then be sown in seedling trays filled with river sand or seedling mix. The seeds must be pressed down into the sand until they are level with the surface of the sand and then covered with a layer of fine sand. The Kei-apple can also be propagated from hardwood cuttings as long as they are treated with root-stimulating hormone before planting. It also has a good growth rate of about 600 mm per year.

References

  • Germishuizen, G., Meyer, N.L., Steenkamp, Y. & Keith, M. (eds) 2006. A Checklist of South African plants. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 41. SABONET, Pretoria.
  • COATES PALGRAVE, K. 1981. Trees of South Africa, edn 2. Struik, Cape Town.
  • DHARANI, N. 2002. Field guide to common trees and shrubs of East Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
  • JOFFE, P. 1993. The gardener's guide to South African plants. Tafelberg, Cape Town.
  • VAN WYK, B. & GERICKE, N. 2000. People's plants. A guide to useful plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.

Credits

Phillemon Ndou
Witwatersrand National Botanical Gardens
April 2003

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Shrub, Tree

SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape

Soil type: Sandy

Flowering season: Late Summer

PH:

Flower colour: Cream

Aspect: Full Sun, Morning Sun (Semi Shade)

Gardening skill: Easy

Special Features:

Attracts birds
Attracts butterflies
Drought resistant
Hedge/screen
Edible plant
Useful plant
Feeds honeybees

Horticultural zones

Zone 1 Coastal summer rainfall, frost free

Zone 3 Winter rainfall Karoo, light frost

Zone 4 Summer rainfall Karoo and Highveld, Frost in winter

Zone 5 Bushveld summer rainfall, Light frost