Schotia latifolia fruit pods

The fruits of Schotia latifolia are flat, woody pods. They are oblong to ovate, pale red-brown with a distinct rim along the edges and sometimes a twist in the tail. Pod dimensions are up to 15 cm long and 4 cm wide. 

The pod splits on the tree, sometimes leaving the hard rim hanging with seeds attached. The pale brown, flat seed has a yellow aril attached to it, a large and fleshy incentive for birds and monkeys to eat and disperse the seed.

The pods are seen on the trees from before mid-autumn through winter. The photo was taken in the Kouga Valley during May.

The flowers that preceded these fruits grew in loose heads or panicles from stem-tips. Flower colour is whitish to pink, the petals distinct. Flowering happens from late spring to after midsummer (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).