Dovyalis caffra Warb.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This is a tall evergreen shrub belonging to the order Bixaceae, and known botanically as Aberia caffra. It is indigenous to Caffraria and Natal, as also other parts of South Africa, the fruit being highly appreciated by the natives of those countries. The fruit is the size of a small Apple, in colour is a rich golden yellow, and has a palatable flavour when used fresh, and is excellent when cooked or preserved. It has rich green foliage, and is worthy of cultivation as an ornamental plant, independent of its value as a fruit. As the plant has strong spines it is also very suitable for hedges. It will thrive in any part of Australasia excepting regions where frosts are severe. Propagation is readily effected by either seed, layers, or ripened cuttings of the current season’s wood.’ [Crichton - The Australasian Fruit Culturist vol.2, p.115/1893].

A line drawing appears in Wilson Popenoe’s Manual of Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruits [p.442/1920], used as illustration here.

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1843 and 1845 catalogues as ‘Kie-Apple, as Africa fruit’. Probably introduced directly from the Cape of Good Hope.

Notes

Placed in Bixaceae by earlier authors.