Colpoon compressum fruiting

The photo shows an interesting array of developmental stages of the fruit of Colpoon compressum, previously Osyris compressa.

Clusters of small green fruits become red at the tips as they expand, while some get lost along the way. Those making it to full size of 1,5 cm in length and 1 cm wide, become ellipsoid, red and fleshy, later purplish black when ripe and edible (Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000; Coates Palgrave, 2002).

The photo was taken on Hoy’s Koppie in Hermanus during May.