Hexalobus monopetalus
| Shakama plum (Hexalobus monopetalus) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Hexalobus monopetalus |
| Common names | Shakama plum; baboon's breakfast; wild custard apple; shakamapruim |
| Genus | Hexalobus |
| Family | Annonaceae |
| Order | Magnoliales |
| Habit | Deciduous shrub or small tree, 2–9 m |
| Native setting | Sandy bushveld, woodland, savanna, rocky outcrops, riverine thicket and hillsides |
| Fruit | Scarlet, cylindrical to obovoid; 15–50 × 10–25 mm |
| Fruit season | January–April |
| Propagation | Seed |
Hexalobus monopetalus is an accepted species of Annonaceae; the same binomial is listed independently in the Kew taxonomic backbone. A 2011 publication is devoted to a revision of the African genus Hexalobus.[1][2][3] It is known as shakama plum, baboon's breakfast, wild custard apple and shakamapruim.
Description[edit | edit source]
This species is a deciduous shrub or small tree, usually 2–9 m tall. Its leaves are leathery. The fruits are scarlet and cylindrical to obovoid, measuring about 15–50 × 10–25 mm.[4]
The native settings include sandy bushveld, woodland, savanna, rocky outcrops, riverine thicket and hillsides, from sea level to about 1,600 m. This broad range describes habitat, not a single guaranteed cultivation climate.[4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
The species is recorded from sandy bushveld and rocky settings as well as riverine thicket. A regional account gives roughly 750–1,300 mm annual rainfall and records the plant in sandy, sandy-clay-loam and sandy-loam soils.[5] The species-specific growing guidance uses a well-drained medium for seed; taken together with those habitats, a well-drained sandy or sandy-loam planting site is a reasonable starting point. That is a habitat-based cultivation inference, not a measured soil or water tolerance.[4][5]
A dated field observation near Phalaborwa recorded an approximately 2 m tree among rocks in sandy soil. It is useful setting context, but does not establish a universal soil requirement or a watering schedule.[6]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
The documented habitat spans open savanna and woodland, rocky outcrops and more sheltered riverine thicket.[4] Bright light with good airflow is therefore a reasonable starting point for cultivation, but this is a habitat-based inference rather than a measured light or humidity limit.[4]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The tree is deciduous. In the southern-hemisphere setting of the species account, flowers appear around August–September and fruits ripen mainly from January to April.[4] In other climates, use the sequence of spring flowering followed by summer-to-autumn ripening as the useful phenology benchmark rather than treating those month names as universal. The documented sources do not establish a fixed irrigation schedule; keep the planting medium well drained as seasonal wetness changes.[4][5]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Propagation is mainly by seed. To prepare seed, cut away the tough outer covering to expose it, then sow in a well-drained medium. Under the described nursery method, about 80% germinated within one to three months; the provenance and full protocol behind that figure are not given, so it should be treated as a reference result rather than a guaranteed rate.[4]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is recorded for August–September, followed by a January–April fruiting and ripening period. Fruits may be harvested before full development and allowed to continue ripening. Fruit is often insect-infested, so inspect individual fruits carefully before use.[4]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
Ripe pulp is described as bright yellow with a sweet, pleasantly acidic flavor. Fruit is eaten raw or cooked and is also used for jam.[4][5] Descriptions of pulp and fruit details vary between accounts, so color and eating quality should be treated as variable rather than as a fixed cultivar character. No medicinal or food-safety claim is established here.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [1] GBIF species match: Hexalobus monopetalus. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ [2] Plants of the World Online search result: Hexalobus monopetalus. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ [4] Hexalobus monopetalus. PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ [5] Hexalobus monopetalus. Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
- ↑ [6] Chris Wahlberg, “Baboon's Breakfast observation, R526 Phalaborwa”. iNaturalist observation, 19 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2026.