Strychnos madagascariensis
| Black monkey-orange (Strychnos madagascariensis) | |
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| Scientific name | Strychnos madagascariensis |
| Common names | Black monkey-orange, hairy-leaved monkey-orange, shiny-leaved monkey-orange |
| Genus | Strychnos |
| Family | Loganiaceae |
| Order | Gentianales |
| Growth form | Small, often multi-stemmed tree |
| Native range | Southern Somalia through eastern and southern Africa, and Madagascar |
| Native biome | Seasonally dry tropical woodland, including open deciduous woodland and riverine fringes |
| Mature height | Usually 1.5–10 m; occasionally to about 20 m |
| Climate and hardiness | Tropical to subtropical; protect from frost |
| Soil | Sandy or well-drained rocky soil |
| Sun and humidity | Open woodland and riverine-fringe conditions |
| Propagation | Seed |
| Fruit | Globose, hard-shelled fruit turning from blue-green to orange-yellow, with orange slimy pulp |
| Harvest | Regional fruiting season; flowering is recorded August–January in Malawi |
Black monkey-orange (Strychnos madagascariensis) is a fruiting tree in the genus Strychnos, family Loganiaceae, and order Gentianales. It is native from southern Somalia through eastern and southern Africa and Madagascar, within the seasonally dry tropical biome.[1]
Description[edit | edit source]
This species is usually a small, often multi-stemmed tree. The leaves are reported at about 2–10 cm long. Its globose fruit has a hard shell and changes from blue-green to orange-yellow as it ripens; the pulp is orange and slimy. The Malawi record gives fruit up to about 8 cm across.[2]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Black monkey-orange comes from open deciduous woodland, riverine fringes and rocky koppies in a seasonally dry tropical range. For cultivation, combine strong drainage with warmth and a pronounced seasonal rhythm rather than treating it as a continuously wet forest tree. The species is also recorded from tropical to subtropical regions up to about 1,500 m in horticultural guidance, but the elevation figure is not a hardiness limit.[1][2][3]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Use a sandy or sharply drained medium, or improve heavy ground so that water does not remain around the root crown. Rocky native settings and riverine fringes indicate that drainage and access to water can coexist; steady moisture during active growth should not be taken to mean tolerance of stagnant soil. The soil guidance is secondary and should be treated as a starting point for this species rather than a tested irrigation schedule.[2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Give the tree bright light to full sun with good airflow. Its native settings include open deciduous woodland as well as riverine margins, so it is not restricted to dense canopy shade. In subtropical cultivation, a warm, sheltered position is more important than enclosing the plant in still, saturated air. Frost protection is necessary because horticultural guidance characterizes the species as frost-sensitive.[2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The Malawi flora record places flowering from August through January. A separate horticultural synthesis allows flowering and fruiting in different seasons, potentially including much of the year, so timing should be expected to vary with region and rainfall rather than fixed to one calendar. In cultivation, maintain growth moisture through the active warm season and reduce exposure to cold and waterlogged conditions during the cooler or drier interval.[2][3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Seed is the propagation method listed for this species. The horticultural account describes growth from seed as fairly fast, but it does not establish a dependable germination schedule, bearing age or seed-storage protocol for every provenance. Use fresh, correctly identified seed and expect seedlings to vary; do not treat a single reported growth rate as a production guarantee.[3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is recorded from August to January in Malawi, while broader horticultural guidance allows regional variation in flowering and fruiting. The hard-shelled fruit changes from blue-green to orange-yellow as it ripens and may reach about 8 cm in the Malawi record. Harvest when the fruit has reached its mature orange-yellow stage; timing varies with region and rainfall.[2][3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The ripe pulp is orange, slimy and described as edible, although the Malawi account calls it not very palatable and the horticultural account describes an acidulous flavor. Uses recorded for the pulp include drinks and dried fruit. The pulp is therefore a regional food-use record rather than a claim of universally preferred flavor. Seed safety is unresolved; do not eat the seeds or present them as a food ingredient.[2][3]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [1] Plants of the World Online, Strychnos madagascariensis accepted name, classification and native range; accessed 2026-09-30.
- ↑ [2] Flora of Malawi, Strychnos madagascariensis morphology, habitat, flowering season, fruit and pulp description; accessed 2026-09-30.
- ↑ [3] Useful Tropical Plants, Strychnos madagascariensis qualified cultivation, propagation and fruit-use guidance; accessed 2026-09-30.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Strychnos madagascariensis 2 (4350927134).jpg — Ton Rulkens, CC BY-SA 2.0; dried fruit pulp from Machaze district, Mozambique. Attribution and share-alike terms apply.
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