Diospyros simii

Diospyros simii, the climbing star-apple, is a scrambling shrub or a small, erect tree with drooping branches, growing to 7 m in height (SA Tree List No 609).

The bark is grey to brown and smooth, branches emerging at right angles from stems. Young branches may be spine-like or bending backwards, covered in bristly hairs.

The species distribution lies in a broad coastal band from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal in a habitat of riparian forest and forest margin. The tree is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

The tree is fast-growing and drought resistant. It attracts birds and butterflies (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.redlist.sanbi.org; www.growwild.co.za).