Diospyros ramulosa, the tkoenoebe

Diospyros ramulosa is a dioecious shrub, i.e. male and female flowers occur on different plants.

Eating these fruits is part of childhood memories for the people from the region. Those ended up as city dwellers cherish specially their days among the Namaqua klipkoppe.

The leaves and unripe fruit in picture are all pale velvety, covered in soft, short hairs. The now old, white and brown style that was important in the flowering stage is still visible, persisting on the fruit tip (Mannheimer and Curtis, (Eds.), 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist).