Description
Ziziphus mucronata (Rhamnaceae) – Buffalo Thorn (e), Blinkblaar Wag-n-Bietjie (a), umPhafa (z), Mokhalo (s). Very hardy, deciduous, small to medium sized tree with both hook and straight thorns. The glossy leaves turn a beautiful, golden yellow in autumn. It has attractive, small, yellowish flowers from Oct. to Jan. and hard round reddish-brown berries with a sweet, powdery pulp, which are known to be used as a kind of porridge. Seeds can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute. Makes an excellent garden subject with a good shape planted in sun or semi-shade. It is a host plant to several species of butterfly. A must for a bird garden. It has many medicinal and magical properties and it is believed that if a tree is felled after the first rains, a drought will certainly ensue. Size 3 to 10 m. S.A. No. 448. Sowing: Sow seeds in summer in a well drained medium after soaking for 12 hours. Locality: Bloemfontein. Harvest: September 2023
