Diospyros lycioides (100 seeds)
Family: Ebenaceae
Common names: bluebush, star-apple, monkey plum, bloubos.
The bluebush is a slow to fast-growing plant, depending on the climate. It is a deciduous to evergreen shrub to medium tree up to 5 m tall with an open crown and drooping branches. It has blue-green leaves arranged spirally at the ends of the branches. The bark is dark grey to brown and smooth on older branches and stems, but covered with long hairs on young branches. It bears tiny creamy yellow bell-shaped flowers, sweetly fragrant especially at night. The flowers attract lots of insects, especially bees, and also insectivorous bird. It is necessary to plant both female and male plants to produce the attractive deep-red marble-sized berries which are eaten by various birds, dassies, monkey and also humans. The fruit has a pleasant sweetish taste, with jelly-like flesh when ripe; the young fruit is covered by hairs, but is smooth when ripe and turns from red to reddish brown to black. This widespread plant has many interesting and different uses. It is used to make beer. The roasted ground seeds were once used as a coffee substitute (Joffe 2001). The wood is used to build huts and to make spoons. A yellowish brown dye is obtained from the roots. The bark is used for tanning skins. The roots are chewed and used as a toothbrush. In the Karoo it is valued for its shade and shelter, but it is said to taint the milk of cows. The roots are also used medicinally by the local people in various parts of the country.
Sowing instructions: Soak seeds overnight in hot water and plant in a well drained medium during summer months.
Locality: Bloemfontein. Harvest: September 2024