Osteospermum moniliferum fruit colours

Osteospermum moniliferum produces attractive green, yellow, orange, red and eventually black spherical fruits, following on the yellow flowerheads. In picture they differ notably in size, less in shine. They become up to 6 mm in diameter.

The drupes are fleshy and edible. They were an important food item to the Khoi people in the distant past. The plant produces many fruits as can be seen in the photo, of much interest to the hungry who assist in seed dispersal.

Today it is mainly birds and children that eat the sweet fruit (Manning, 2007; Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000).