Common Name: Monkey Orange

General Information

Strychnos cocculoides is a small deciduous shrub or tree with its branches spreading from near the base to form a rounded crown; it can grow from 2 - 8 metres tall. It has a deeply ridged, thick corky bark, and branches that are armed with strong curved spines[, , , ].
One of the most important wild fruits in Tanzania and Namibia[, ], the fruit is commonly harvested from wild trees for local use. Although the tree is not usually cultivated, it is often left in fields when other trees are removed and is also grown from seed and then planted onto cleared sites[, , ]. The fruit is sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

Various parts of Strychnos plants, especially the seeds and bark, contain toxic alkaloids such as strychnine and brucine. The fleshy pulp of the ripe fruits, however, is often edible[].
The fruits contain bony seeds which are said to be poisonous[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Southern tropical Africa - Gabon to Tanzania, south to S. Africa.

Habitat

Sandy soil in woodland and savannah, often on rocky hill sides; at elevations from 400 - 2,000 metres in Zimbabwe[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moderate elevations in dry to moist tropical areas with seasonal rainfall, where it can be found at elevations from 400 - 2,000 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures fall within the range 16 - 28°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall within the range 700 - 1,200mm, tolerating 400 - 1,400mm[].
Prefers an open, sunny position[]. It is not very specific to soil type, being found in the wild on deep sandy soil on rocky slopes, and also growing on acidic dark-grey clays and red or yellow-red loams[, ]. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[].
The fruit can take 12 months from flowering to ripening[].
Trees respond well to coppicing[, ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. The pulp is very tasty[]. Juicy, with a pleasant taste[, ]. More commonly eaten by children, though adults do also eat it[]. The juice can be fermented or made into a refreshing sweet-sour drink[, , ]. The flesh is traditionally obtained by punching a hole into the hard shell and then scooping out the flesh[]. The fruit can be picked green and then stored in sand to ripen slowly over the next few months[]. The large, light green or yellow fruits, 7 - 13cm in diameter, are hard shelled and smooth[]. The fruits contain bony seeds which are said to be poisonous[, ].

Medicinal

The fruit is mixed with honey or sugar and used to treat coughing[].
The fruit is used in making eardrops for treating ear complaints[].

The root can be chewed to alleviate stomach disorders, eczema and sores on the skin. It is also an alleged cure for gonorrhoea[, , ].

The leaves are pounded and applied as a poultice on sores[, ].

The roots, leaves and bark are used in treating disorders of the male organs[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is sometimes planted along boundaries and near home compounds[].

Other Uses

A dye obtained from the fruit is used to colour trays and containers. It also provides protection from insect attacks[, ].

The fruit can be used as a soap for washing clothes[].

The hard shell of the fruit is used for making rattles - the shell is dried, a small hole is made into it and then hard, dry seeds are placed within[].

The wood is white and tough, rather soft, and pliable. It is used primarily for building materials and tool handles[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

The seed is hard to germinate because it has a hard seed coat that requires pre-treatment. It is recommended that the fresh seed is used where possible and that it be soaked in hot water for 24 - 48 hours prior to sowing[]. The optimum temperature for the germination of the seed is 23.5°c, with a germination range of 11.8 - 36°c[].
The seed has a short viability of 2 months at the most when stored at room temperature[].
Root suckers. These can be encouraged to develop by wounding the tree[].

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