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Dovyalis caffra

Authority (Hook. f. & Harvey) Warb. Family Magnoliopsida:Dilleniidae:Violales:Flacourtiaceae Synonyms Common names Kaiyaba, Kei apple Editor Ecocrop code 5534

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small deciduous tree or shrub reaching up to 9 m in height, often with numerous sharp spines. The fruit is a subglobose berry, up to 4 cm in diameter and golden yellow. USES Raw fruits are very acid and only eaten with much sugar. Prepared fruits are used in jams, lellies, sauces, etc. The plant makes a good hedge. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. In the Mediterranean region and in the United States, the plants flower in April and May and ripen their fruit from August to October. Begins to bear 4-5 years after sowing. COMMON NAMES Kei-apple, Key apple, Pommier-kei, Aberia, Umkokolo, Umkolo, English kei-apple. FURTHER INF Kei-apple is native of the region around the Kei River in South Africa. It is well adapted to subtropical climates and to tropical highland conditions. It occurs in open bush and wooded grassland, often in Acacia woodland and frequently associated with termite mounds. The trees tolerate sea breezes and salt spray. In the Philippines it is grown above 800 m in altitude. It is drought resistant and somewhat frost resistant.
Sources
SOURCES (D. caffra (Hook.f. & Harvey) Hook.f.) Popenoe W 1974 pp 441-443 [TEMP, DRA, FER, USE] CTIFL 1988 pp 113 Samson J 86 pp 315 [USE] Verheij E 1991 pp 329 [USE, KTMP]