Sapindaceae - Litchi family
SA Tree no 433
This tree has a wide distribution, easiest found in brackish flats, as it is fairly common near rivers and drainage lines. Also occurring in open woodland, among rocks and often on termite mounds.
This is a small to medium sized tree, 4 - 10 m, and has a rounded canopy, formed by an intense tangle of short, grey branchlets and twigs. It has an overall dull-green appearance with very visible short, tangled, pale grey branches. The leaves appear to form rosettes at the ends of the drooping branches. Leaves are hard and leathery with a prominent, sunken, pale midrib. Bark is pale grey to brownish and rather smooth.
Links with animals - While the fruit is eaten by a wide variety of animals and birds, the leaves are unpalatable and are seldom eaten. (The leaves provide a valuable browse for game and stock??????)
Human uses - The fruit is edible, and tasty and jelly and vinegar are made from it. The seeds contain oil that is used for various purposes. The wood is used for poles, yokes, furniture and spoons. It is claimed that the seeds have several healing properties.
Gardening - This is an attractive tree that will flourish in most gardens, It grows very well from seed, but is a very slow grower. It is fairly drought-resistant.
Leaves - Simple, alternate in the older growth and crowded towards the end of the twigs; elliptic with a rounded base and tip, and very variable in size, depending on rainfall. The margins are smooth when mature, but sharply toothed in young leaves. The leaves are leathery, rough, dark olive-green above and pale underneath, with a conspicuous yellow midrib that is visible from both sides. Apex and base rounded ; closely spine-toothed; petiole stout. (5 - 10 x 80 - 160 mm)
Flowers - Small, pale green, scented flowers are borne in spikes between the leaves. In axillary and terminal, catkin-like racemes; all floral parts in fives; calyx cup-shaped; petals usually 5, sometimes 4 or 6; each petal with 2 hairy scales at the base; stamens 8 to 10, about 4 mm long, reduced in size and sterile in female flowers; ovary 3 chambered, absent in male flowers. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, from October to March. (Spikes: 25 - 160 mm)
Fruit - The velvety-green berry-like fruit is three-lobed and borne in bunches, When ripe they burst open, from December to May, they expose a shiny, bright red jelly covering the black seeds. The dark shells of the fruit may be seen long after the fruit has dropped. (20 mm)
Best places to see the Jacket-Plum in Southern Africa:
The Jacket-Plum is found in the Kruger National Park in the Mixed Bushwillow Woodlands, Pretoriuskop Sourveld, Malelane Mountain Bushveld, Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets, Thorn Veld, Lebombo Mountain Bushveld, Olifants Rugged Veld & Mopane Scrubveld ecozones.
 Tree species of Southern Africa >> Printable Tree List <<
South African Trees >> Printable Tree List <<
The Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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