moepel
umpushane
Mimusops zeyheri is a semi-hardy, drought-resistant, evergreen tree with a spreading, densely rounded crown and deeply grooved bark, growing 3 – 11 meters tall. Leaves are simple, alternate, leathery, and glossy, with a velvety under surface when young. Sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers appear in clusters from October to February. The shiny yellow-orange fruit is edible, high in vitamin C, and has a brittle skin. The species is widespread in southern Africa, found in open woodland, bushveld, and rocky slopes.
Fruits are eaten by birds, monkeys, baboons, bushpigs, and people, aiding seed dispersal. Leaves are browsed by antelope and elephants. The tree is a larval host for Boisduval’s False Acraea and Pied False Acraea butterflies, and supports a variety of other insects. Dense foliage provides nesting and shelter for birds and small animals.
Creamy-white, sweetly scented flowers pollinated by insects. Fruits are edible, rich in vitamin C, and dispersed by birds and mammals.
Fruits attract barbets, bulbuls, louries, mousebirds, pigeons, and other frugivorous birds; dense canopy offers nesting sites.
Sow fresh seeds in well-drained soil; germinates slowly.
Not commonly used; seed propagation preferred.
Fruit eaten fresh; bark, roots, and leaves used in traditional medicine.
Leaves browsed by game and livestock.
Not known to be toxic.
Useful for food forests, shade, soil stabilization, and supporting wildlife diversity.
