Boscia albitrunca aka Shepherd's Tree

Boscia albitrunca has the common name shepherd's tree. It is part of the caper family, Capparaceae. It is native to southern tropical and southern Africa. It grows in dry parts of South Africa and Namibia. Its range takes in Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique too. Wild trees grow in dry woods and bush. Some grow on termite mounds. Kew also lists deserts and dry shrubland as its habitats.

This evergreen tree keeps its leaves all year round. Its many branches form a dense, round crown. Reports give a height of about 33 feet [10 metres]. Old trunks can grow twisted and hollow with age. Water can gather in these hollows, and local people collect it. The San are among those who use this water. The tree also yields several foods in dry regions. Some groups in Africa value it so much they forbid people to destroy it.

The tree bears many small flowers with a sweet scent. Insects carry pollen from flower to flower. The round fruits reach about 0.4 inches [0.01 metres] across. Their smooth skins turn yellow-orange as the fruits ripen. People eat the flesh, though it tastes sharp and feels slippery. Fresh fruit does not keep for long once picked. People make jam or syrup to keep it longer. They soak the fruit in water to make a sweet drink. They also mix crushed fruit with fresh milk.

When grown in gardens, this tree needs full sun. It suits dry tropical and subtropical climates. Once it takes root, it copes very well with drought. People sometimes plant it for its looks. Growers can start new plants from seed or cuttings. They can use root cuttings to grow plants too. The supplied sources give no hardiness zone or bloom months. Nor do they give advice on specific pests or diseases.

People eat the roots when other food runs short. The roots contain sugar, so people use them in sweet drinks. Sources disagree on whether the seeds are safe to eat. One warns that swallowing them can make people sick. Slices of root help keep mould off stored food. Useful Tropical Plants cites research that backs this effect against fungi. People also use the roots in folk medicine. They make household tools from the wood. These include mortars that resist cracks.