Ximenia caffra var. caffra fruit

The edible fruits of Ximenia caffra var. caffra, the sourplum, are sought after, although they are sour as the name says. What sugar there is, is situated immediately below the skin. So the sweetness should be savoured quickly before the sourness takes over. What happens then is dictated by sourness, social habit, hunger, determination and shyness.

The trees are quite common on the Magaliesberg range, growing tall among the rocks on the upper slopes. On the southern side the cold may trim them back severely during a harsh winter.

The attraction for people must lie in the beautiful colour of the ellipsoid fruits. This tree qualifies as a prize item in the garden. It is grown from seed (check pza.sanbi.org/ximenia-caffra).

For baboons they are welcome midsummer food. The seeds are sometimes used for extracting a body lotion (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Carruthers, 1990).