Dovyalis caffra (Warb.), Aberia caffra (Harv. & Sond.) the Umkokola, Kei apple, Kayaba, Kai apple, or Kau apple,[1] is a small to medium-sized tree, native to southern Africa. Its distribution extends from the Kei River in the south, from which the common name derives, northwards along the eastern side of the continent to Tanzania. The ripe fruits are tasty, reminiscent of a small apple.
It is a usually found in dry types of woodland when it grows to 6 m tall. In moister types of open woodland it reaches its greatest size of about 8–9 metres. A tree, with sharp, 3–6 cm long stem spines in the leaf axils, and large sturdy thorns. Buds at the base of the spine produce clusters of alternately arranged simple ovate leaves 3–6 cm long.
The flowers are inconspicuous, solitary or clustered, with no petals. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, though some female plants are parthenogenetic.
The fruit is an edible bright yellow or orange globose berry 2.5–4 cm diameter, with the skin and flesh of a uniform colour and containing several small seeds. Production is often copious, weighing down the branches during the summer. They are juicy, tasty and very acidic.
Cultivation and usesEdit
A traditional food plant in the areas it occurs, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.[2]
Kei-apples are often eaten fresh or sprinkled with sugar to complement their natural acidity. Aside from being eaten fresh, the fruit can be made into jam, used in desserts, or pickled (their natural acidity means vinegar is not needed). In Kenya, it is mostly used for live fences and hedges.(Chiel) locally known in luo[citation needed]
Although it is native to southern Africa, it has also been introduced to the Mediterranean, California, Florida, and other regions with subtropical and warm temperate climates. In these places it is most often grown as an ornamental plant, being popular as an impenetrable hedge. It is salt and drought-tolerant, so useful for coastal landscaping in dry regions.
Although a subtropical species, the Kei apple is able to survive temperatures as low as −6 °C (21 °F). Gardeners who want fruit require a female plant; a fertile female plant and a fertile male plant is ideal. Kei apples are propagated by seed. Plants will bear about four years later.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dovyalis caffra.
ReferencesEdit
^Sturtevant, Edward (1919). Sturtevant's notes on edible plants. Albany: J.B. Lyon company, State printers. p. 17.
^National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Kei Apple". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3. National Academies Press. ISBN978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2008-07-17. Downloadable PDF
^Hequet, Vanessa (2009). Les espèces exotiques envahissantes de Nouvelle-Calédonie(PDF) (in French). p. 17.
"Dovyalis caffra". Ornamental trees in Spain. José Manuel Sanchez de Lorenzo Cáceres. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-01-19.
October 15, 2023
dovyalis, caffra, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dovyalis caffra news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dovyalis caffra Warb Aberia caffra Harv amp Sond the Umkokola Kei apple Kayaba Kai apple or Kau apple 1 is a small to medium sized tree native to southern Africa Its distribution extends from the Kei River in the south from which the common name derives northwards along the eastern side of the continent to Tanzania The ripe fruits are tasty reminiscent of a small apple Dovyalis caffraDovyalis caffra flowersScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily SalicaceaeGenus DovyalisSpecies D caffraBinomial nameDovyalis caffraWarb It is a usually found in dry types of woodland when it grows to 6 m tall In moister types of open woodland it reaches its greatest size of about 8 9 metres A tree with sharp 3 6 cm long stem spines in the leaf axils and large sturdy thorns Buds at the base of the spine produce clusters of alternately arranged simple ovate leaves 3 6 cm long The flowers are inconspicuous solitary or clustered with no petals It is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants though some female plants are parthenogenetic The fruit is an edible bright yellow or orange globose berry 2 5 4 cm diameter with the skin and flesh of a uniform colour and containing several small seeds Production is often copious weighing down the branches during the summer They are juicy tasty and very acidic Cultivation and uses EditA traditional food plant in the areas it occurs this little known fruit has potential to improve nutrition boost food security foster rural development and support sustainable landcare 2 Kei apples are often eaten fresh or sprinkled with sugar to complement their natural acidity Aside from being eaten fresh the fruit can be made into jam used in desserts or pickled their natural acidity means vinegar is not needed In Kenya it is mostly used for live fences and hedges Chiel locally known in luo citation needed Although it is native to southern Africa it has also been introduced to the Mediterranean California Florida and other regions with subtropical and warm temperate climates In these places it is most often grown as an ornamental plant being popular as an impenetrable hedge It is salt and drought tolerant so useful for coastal landscaping in dry regions Although a subtropical species the Kei apple is able to survive temperatures as low as 6 C 21 F Gardeners who want fruit require a female plant a fertile female plant and a fertile male plant is ideal Kei apples are propagated by seed Plants will bear about four years later Ecology EditThe species is invasive in New Caledonia 3 nbsp Ripe fruit nbsp Unripe fruit nbsp Thorns nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dovyalis caffra References Edit Sturtevant Edward 1919 Sturtevant s notes on edible plants Albany J B Lyon company State printers p 17 National Research Council 2008 01 25 Kei Apple Lost Crops of Africa Volume III Fruits Lost Crops of Africa Vol 3 National Academies Press ISBN 978 0 309 10596 5 Retrieved 2008 07 17 Downloadable PDF Hequet Vanessa 2009 Les especes exotiques envahissantes de Nouvelle Caledonie PDF in French p 17 Dovyalis caffra PlantZAfrica com Retrieved 2010 01 19 Dovyalis caffra Ornamental trees in Spain Jose Manuel Sanchez de Lorenzo Caceres in Spanish Retrieved 2010 01 19 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dovyalis caffra amp oldid 1163034600, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
