Table 3.
Seasonal availability (W = winter, Sp = spring, Su = summer, A = autumn), occurrence, and ecological traits of fruit species in three villages in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga province, South Africa. SATN = South Africa. $ Life-form number provided in bracket is based on National List of Indigenous Trees (https://www.treetags.co.za/national-list-of-indigenous-trees/). # Colors of ripe fruit were similar to the description by Mashile et al. [21]
| Scientific Name | Availability | Occurrence | $ Life-Form | # Colour Of Ripe Fruit | Fruiting Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annona senegalensis | Su | Common | Shrub (105) | Yellow | Dec–Mar [6] | Wild |
| Berchemia discolor | Su | Common | Tree (449) | Yellow | Jan–May [53] | Wild |
| Berchemia zeyheri | Su, A | Common | Tree (450) | Red | Jan–May [53] | Wild |
| Bridelia micrantha | W | Common | Tree (324) | Black | Oct–Dec [53] | Wild |
| Canthium inerme | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (708) | Brown | Oct–Apr [54] | Wild |
| Carissa edulis | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (604.4) | Black | Sept–Dec [55] | Wild |
| Diospyros mespiliformis | Sp, Su | Common | Tree (606) | Brown | Apr–Sep [46] | Wild |
| Englerophytum magalismontanum | W, Su, A | Common | Tree (581) | Red | Dec–Feb [47] | Wild |
| Euclea divinorum | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (595) | Black | Dec–Mar [54] | Wild |
| Ficus sur | W, Sp, Su, A | Common | Tree (50) | Red | Sept–Mar [54] | Wild |
| Ficus thonningii | W, Sp, Su, A | Common | Tree | Red | Oct–Dec [46] | Wild |
| Flueggea virosa | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (309) | White | Dec–Mar [54] | Wild |
| Grewia flavescens | Su | Common | Shrub (459.2) | Brown | Dec–Mar [54] | Wild |
| Lannea edulis | Su | Common | Shrub | Black | Oct–Dec [46] | Wild |
| Lannea schweinfurthii | Su | Common | Tree (363) | Yellow | Nov–Mar [54] | Wild |
| Lantana rugosa | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub | Purple | Sep–May [48] | Domesticated |
| Macrotyloma maranguense | Su | Common | Shrub | Yellowish or pinkish-brown | Sep–May [48] | Domesticated |
| Mimusops zeyheri | Su | Common | Tree (581) | Yellow | Apr–Sep [54] | Wild |
| Parinari capensis | W, Sp | Common | Tree | Brown | Oct–Jan [54] | Wild |
| Parinari curatellifolia | Sp | Common | Shrub (146) | Brown | Oct–Nov [6] | Wild |
| Sclerocarya birrea | Su | Common | Tree (360) | Yellow | Feb–Jun [54] | Wild |
| Searsia pendulina | W, A | Common | Tree (396) | Black | Dec–May [54] | Wild |
| Strychnos madagascariensis | Su | Common | Tree (626) | Yellow | Sept–Feb [49] | Wild |
| Strychnos spinosa | Sp, Su | Common | Tree (629) | Yellow | Sept–Feb [49] | Wild |
| Syzygium cordatum | Sp, Su | Common | Tree (551) | Deep purple | Nov–Mar [6] | Wild |
| Syzygium intermedium | A | Common | Tree (556.1) | Red | Dec–Apr [54] | Domesticated |
| Trichilia emetica | Su, A | Common | Tree (301) | Red to brown | Jan–May [54] | Wild |
| Vangueria infausta | Su, A | Common | Tree (702) | Brown | Jan–May [50] | Wild |
| Vangueria pygmaea | Sp, Su | Common | Tree | Black | Feb–Apr [6] | Wild |
| Ximenia americana | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (101.5) | Orange | Jan–May [54] | Wild |
| Ximenia caffra | Sp, Su | Common | Shrub (103) | Red | Aug–Oct [54] | Wild |