Berchemia zeyheri Seeds - Red Ivory - Indigenous Evergreen Edible Fruit Tree Medicinal NEW

The genus Berchemia is in the Rhamnaceae family. The genus was named after the Dutch botanist Berthout van Berchem. They are unarmed climbing plants or small to medium-sized shrubs and trees that occur in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The stipules are small and not spiny. The leaves are alternate or opposite to subopposite, petiolate, entire and not 3-veined from the base. The fruits are fleshy drupes, usually carrying two seeds. The genus contains about 12 species of which Berchemia zeyheri and Berchemia discolor are the most popular ones.

Berchemia zeyheri commonly known as Pink Ivory and Red Ivorywood is an evergreen to semi-deciduous South African indigenous tree that is drought resistant. It is a valuable addition to the garden as the fruits are edible by humans and also attract birds, such as Black-eyed bulbuls, Crested, Pied and Black-collared barbets, Redwinged starlings, Grey louries, Rameron and Green pigeons, to the garden. The fruits are delicious and can be eaten fresh or stored in containers. The sticky, sweet, dried fruits can still be eaten after several months. Furniture made from this tree is very strong, durable, and takes paint and varnish well. The wood is also good for making wooden bows, walking sticks, small boxes and curios. It is believed that in KwaZulu-Natal the tree was known as the royal tree because only chiefs were allowed to carry knob-kerries (a stick with a rounded knob on one end) made from it. The hard and strong wood is regarded as a precious timber in Mozambique and is also used as fencing poles. Fibres and woven materials are dyed with an extract made from the bark to give them a purplish colour. Medicinally the powdered bark is also used to cure headaches when smoked and an extract from the inner part of the tree was used to relieve back pain.