Common Bush-cherry (Maerua cafra)

 Family Capparaceae

 Maerua cafra is an evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to a height of 2-9m, depending on the local conditions. Its light-coloured trunk accounts for the common name "white-wood" or "witbos" in Afrikaans.

 Flowers are followed by oval, plum-like fruit in October - December. These are up to 45mm long, pale green with dark green ribs and reported to be edible. The illustration (right) by Gill Condy from Flowering Plants of Africa shows the flowers, fruits and leaves.

 Leaves of Maerua cafra are browsed by game and ground roots have been used as chicory substitute.

 When the fruit ripens it remains green, but becomes soft and strongly sweet smelling and is relished by many different bird species.

 Growing Maerua cafra
The common bush-cherry can be propagated from seeds which must be sown fresh.

 The germination rate is often very high, but growth is reputed to be slow with reports that plants can take 3-7 years to reach 1m.

 Commercial nurseries cannot afford to be so patient, thus Maerua cafra is not often stocked. It is a slow-growing, drought resistant shrub. If planted in the nursery bags, root development tends to be very poor.

 Some writers (Palmer & Pitman) differ, and report that it thrives in cultivation under natural conditions and flowers when small. Perhaps keen gardeners will take up this challenge.