''Kiggelaria africana'' (also known as the wild peach or umKokoko) is a large, robust, low-branching

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n tree, and is currently the only accepted species in the genus ''Kiggelaria''. Despite its common name, ''Kiggelaria africana'' is not related to the more familiar fruit-producing

peach tree The peach (''Prunus persica'') is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-f ...

(''Prunus persica'') although the leaves do look similar, if only very superficially. Unlike peach leaves, they are fairly thick and stiff, with a thin coating of fur on the undersides.

Appearance

A well-shaped, robust, evergreen tree 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.

Distribution

This tree grows across southern and eastern

- from

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in the south, northwards as far as

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. It occurs naturally in

Afromontane forests The Afromontane regions are subregions of the Afrotropical realm, one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms, covering the plant and animal species found in the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. The Afromontane regions ...

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'' or the garden acraea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Description ''A. horta'' L. (53 e, f) is one of the longest known and commonest Acraeids of the Cape, but it is also nati ...

'' 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.

Gallery

Kiggelaria africana - 9.JPG, Detail of the foliage Kiggelaria africana, manlike blomme, a, Seringveld.jpg, Detail of male flower Kiggelaria africana open fruit capsule IMG 5067.JPG, Open fruit capsule. The leaf damage is largely caused by larvae of the butterfly ''Acraea horta'' Kiggelaria africana seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg, Seeds

Appearance

Distribution

Growing ''Kiggelaria africana''

Gallery

References

Further reading