Crownberry, Common dovyalis, Common sourberry
Dovyalis rhamnoides

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

A rigid spiny shrub. It can be a tree to 5 m tall. It is slender and spreading. The trunk can be 22 cm across. The branches can often have straight spines 2.5-8 cm long. The twigs and spines are usually slender. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are soft and thin. The leaves are 1.3-2.5 cm long by 1.3-1.9 cm wide. They can be heart-shaped or oval. The male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The flowers are small and cream or green. The male flowers occur in small clusters in the axils of leaves and the female flowers are single and on short stalks. The fruit is an oval berry. It is fleshy and 1.3 cm across. It becomes bright red. The fruit are edible.

There are about 22 Dovyalis species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1370 m in South Africa. It occurs in forested areas near the coast as well as inland in mountain evergreen forest. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Eswatini, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland

How it is used for food

The fruit make good jelly and preserves. They are also used for wine.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are easily grown from seed. Seedlings transplant easily.

Its other names

Local names

Appelkoos, Cape cranberry, Gewonesuurvessie, Mabambana, Umabambambane, Umnyazuma, Umkokolo, Umnyezane, Umqokolo

Synonyms

Dovyalis zizyphoides E. Mey. ex Arn.; Flacourtia rhamnoides Burch. ex DC.;