ANACARDIACEAE

Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra

Marula

Trees & Shrubs

Local Context

One of the common trees of the Lowveld and fairly prolific in the Hoedspruit area. It occurs across tropical Africa.

Identification

Growth: Medium to large deciduous tree (up to 18 m tall) with a wide, rounded crown and grey bark that often peels off in flat, roundish scales.
Flowers: Male and female flowers grow on separate trees; the small male flowers are red, pink, or yellowish and hang in long drooping spikes (up to 22 cm), while female flowers appear alone or in small groups of 2–3.
Leaves: Divided into 7–21 pairs of leaflets arranged along a central stalk; the leaflets are egg-shaped to oval (3–10 cm long), smooth, and distinctly paler underneath.
Texture: Leaves are smooth and hairless; the fruit has a thick skin enclosing a hard, woody stone.
Fruit: Round or egg-shaped fruit (3–4 cm wide) that turns pale yellow when ripe, containing a very juicy, tart white flesh.

Did You Know?

The Marula bears fruit with up to eight times the Vitamin C of an orange. Known as the Marriage Tree to the Zulu, it is believed to grant couples lifelong vigour and fertility. This cultural significance extends to Venda folklore, where bark from male or female trees is traditionally used in hopes of predetermining a child’s gender. Archaeological evidence from the Pomongwe Cave in Zimbabwe suggests humans have been eating Marula fruit for over 10,000 years.

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