Kiggelaria africana
Encyclopedia
Kiggelaria africana is a large, robust, low-branching Africa
n tree.
Despite its common name, it is not related to the more familiar fruit-producing Peach tree
(Prunus persica) although the leaves do superficially look similar.
with grey-green leaves. The smooth bark is pale grey in colour and the tree tends to be low-branching.
The Wild Peach is dioecious
(having separate male and female trees) and its tiny flowers are bell-shaped and a yellowish colour.
The flowers are followed later in the summer by round, green capsules. These split open once ripe and the seeds, which are each covered in a layer of bright orange-red flesh, are eaten and spread by birds.
- from Cape Town
in the south, northwards as far as Kenya
.
It occurs naturally in Afromontane forests
as well as by the coast, in bushveld and along rivers.
It naturally forms a large shade tree with a gentle, non-invasive root system, but also makes a good windbreak or hedge. If a conventional "tree shape" is required, then the shoots that grow from the tree's lower trunk should be removed.
A multitude of birds enjoy the tiny red fruits and will consequently be attracted to this tree, as are Acraea horta
butterflies (Their caterpillars sometimes eat the tree bare, but this is part of a natural process and the Kiggelaria trees always rapidly regrow their foliage).
This tree can easily be propagated from seed. Young plants grow fast and begin flowering after only a year or two.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n tree.
Despite its common name, it is not related to the more familiar fruit-producing Peach tree
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
(Prunus persica) although the leaves do superficially look similar.
Appearance
A well-shaped, robust, evergreen treeEvergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
with grey-green leaves. The smooth bark is pale grey in colour and the tree tends to be low-branching.
The Wild Peach is dioecious
Dioecious
Dioecy is the property of a group of biological organisms that have males and females, but not members that have organs of both sexes at the same time. I.e., those whose individual members can usually produce only one type of gamete; each individual organism is thus distinctly female or male...
(having separate male and female trees) and its tiny flowers are bell-shaped and a yellowish colour.
The flowers are followed later in the summer by round, green capsules. These split open once ripe and the seeds, which are each covered in a layer of bright orange-red flesh, are eaten and spread by birds.
Distribution
This tree grows across southern and eastern AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
- from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in the south, northwards as far as Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
It occurs naturally in Afromontane forests
Afromontane
Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
as well as by the coast, in bushveld and along rivers.
Growing Kiggelaria africana
The Wild Peach is a very tough, hardy and fast-growing tree. It prefers a sunny position (but tolerates shade) and a moderate amount of water. It also survives frost.It naturally forms a large shade tree with a gentle, non-invasive root system, but also makes a good windbreak or hedge. If a conventional "tree shape" is required, then the shoots that grow from the tree's lower trunk should be removed.
A multitude of birds enjoy the tiny red fruits and will consequently be attracted to this tree, as are Acraea horta
Acraea horta
Acraea horta or the Garden Acraea is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It has a typical wingspan of 45-50 mm for males and 49-53 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, but are more common from October to April...
butterflies (Their caterpillars sometimes eat the tree bare, but this is part of a natural process and the Kiggelaria trees always rapidly regrow their foliage).
This tree can easily be propagated from seed. Young plants grow fast and begin flowering after only a year or two.
Further Reading
- van Wyk, B. and van Wyk, P. 1997. Field Guide to trees of South Africa. Struik, Cape Town