Large sourplum

Large sourplum (Ximenia caffra var. caffra): This is the most common and widespread of the 2 variations of large sourplum found in northern Namibia, from Epupa Falls and Kaokoland to the Kunene River region, north-east Namibia, the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip), Otavi, Grootfontein and Tsumeb, Tsumkwe and the Caprivi Strip.

Features include brown black bark and pale brown branches. The leaves are dark-green above and paler green below with fine woolly white hairs. The small, cream-coloured flowers display from September to December. The edible stone-fruit is pale to bright red when ripe, is high in vitamin C but with a slightly sour taste. A juice made from over ripe fruits is a favourite with farmers when mixed with water.
Eland browse the leaves and Bars and Border butterflies use the Large Sourplum as a larval host-plant. Sore eyes can treated using leaf ash and in some regions, local communities use the roots to treat diarrhoea and fever.