Ximenia afra

Ximenia afra
Habit and fruit in South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Santalales
Family: Olacaceae
Genus: Ximenia
Species:
X. afra
Binomial name
Ximenia afra
Varieties[2]
  • Ximenia afra var. afra
  • Ximenia afra var. natalensis Sond.
Synonyms[2]
  • Ximenia americana var. afra (Sond.) Engl.

Ximenia afra,[3] the sourplum,[4] is a small tree or small shrub that is thinly branched. It is part of the Olacaceae family which is native throughout tropical regions. In particular, the sourplum is native to regions in South East Africa, mainly Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[5] Sourplum fruits are generally sour, with a dry aftertaste, and contain significant amounts of potassium.[6] The tree is fairly hardy, with frost resistance and drought tolerance. The tree, fruit, seed, leaves, and roots are all used for human consumption, medicinally, or for fuel.

  1. ^ Andriamanohera, A.M. (2021). "Ximenia caffra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T165445233A165445341. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Ximenia afra Sond. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  3. ^ Callaway, Ewen (2024). "Hundreds of racist plant names will change after historic vote by botanists". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-02365-x. PMID 39026072. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Ximenia caffra". European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  5. ^ C, Orwa, Mutua A, Kindt R, Jamnadass R, and Simons A. "Ximenia Caffra." Agroforestree Database: A Tree Reference and Selection Guide Version 4.0. 2009. http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Ximenia_caffra.pdf Archived 11 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Ndhlala, A.R., Muchuweti, M., Mupure, C., Chitindingu, K., Murenje, T., Kasiyamhuru, A., Benhura, M.A. (2008) Phenolic content and profiles of selected wild fruits of Zimbabwe: Ximena caffra, Artobotrys brachypetalus and Syzygium cordatum. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, Vol. 43, p 1333-1337.