Pappea capensis
| Jacket plum (Pappea capensis) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific name | Pappea capensis |
| Common name | Jacket plum |
| Genus | Pappea |
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Growth form | Evergreen small-to-medium tree, about 2–8 m |
| Native range | Southern and eastern Africa |
| Climate and site | Bushveld, riverine thicket, wooded grassland, scrub veld, rocky outcrops, and termite mounds; full sun |
| Propagation | Seed from ripe fruit; warm light shade for germination |
| Fruit | Tart, round green fruit that opens to red flesh around a dark seed |
Pappea capensis is an accepted species in the genus Pappea and family Sapindaceae.[1] It is an evergreen southern African tree grown for its tart, edible fruit and ability to tolerate a range of warm, seasonally dry sites.
Description[edit | edit source]
Pappea capensis is a hardy evergreen tree or shrub, commonly about 2–8 m tall. It has simple oblong leaves and greenish catkins arising in the leaf axils. The fruit is round, green, and velvety; at maturity it splits to expose red flesh around a dark seed.[2] Regional forms vary, with arid populations differing in habit from more luxuriant forms, so height and growth should be treated as site-dependent rather than fixed limits.[3]
The species occurs across southern and eastern Africa in bushveld, riverine thicket, wooded grassland, scrub veld, and on rocky outcrops and termite mounds.[2]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Its natural settings range from bushveld and wooded grassland to riverine thicket, rocky outcrops, scrub veld, and termite mounds. PlantZAfrica lists sandy, clay, and loam soils at neutral pH, so a well-drained planting medium can be matched to the local site rather than treating one soil texture as mandatory.[2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Full sun is the documented cultivation exposure. Growth is faster in warm conditions and slower in dry or cold conditions; a warm, open position is therefore the better starting point where the climate permits.[2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
In the southern hemisphere, flowering extends from September to May. Fruit production is given as December to July in the institutional horticultural account and February to July in an independent overview, so December–July is best treated as a broad, source-qualified range rather than a universal schedule.[2][3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Collect seed from ripe fruit and remove the red flesh before sowing. Seed may be sown immediately or stored; PlantZAfrica recommends a well-drained seedling mix containing river sand, about 5 mm of covering, and warm light shade. Germination takes about six to ten weeks under ideal conditions. Transplant seedlings when they are approximately 20–50 mm tall, taking care not to damage the taproot.[2]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The flowers are greenish and arranged in axillary catkins. The species has a distinct male phase followed by a female phase. Flowering is recorded from September to May in the southern hemisphere. Fruit production overlaps the warmer part of that cycle, with the available accounts placing it broadly from December or February through July.[2][3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The tart fruit is eaten fresh and used for preserves, jelly, vinegar, and an alcoholic drink. The red flesh surrounds a single dark or black seed, and the fruit is also eaten by birds and other animals.[2][3]
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- File: Augrabies-Pappea capensis-001.jpg — Pappea capensis at Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa. Creator: NJR ZA. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Attribution: NJR ZA.
- File: Pappea capensis, vrugstadiumbloeiwyses, Roodeplaat NR, a.jpg — Pappea capensis infructescences during autumn at Roodeplaat Nature Reserve near Pretoria. Creator: JMK. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Attribution: JMK.
