A shrub or small tree occuring in open bush and wooded grasslands. Often found in Acacia woodland and frequently associated with termite mounds.
Height: 3-5m in height, but sometimes reaching as high as 8m.
Bark: Grey and smooth, later flaking into square sections. The branches are armed with stout spines/thorns up to 6cm in length.
Leaves: Often in tight clusters or fascicles, on dwarf lateral branches. Narrowly obovate to broadly obovate-eliptical with a round apex that is occasionally notched and a tapering to narrowly rounded base. The margin is entire and slightly rolled under, with a petiole up to 5mm long.
Flowers: Small, creamy-green in dense clusters, usually on the dwarf lateral shoots. Flowering usually between November and January.
Fruit: The fruit is almost spherical, up to 4cm in diameter. Fleshy and apricot-coloured when mature, and fruits between November and January. Pleasantly flavoured and make excellent jam and jelly.
The Kei-Apple is widely cultivated, not only for its fruit, but also as a hedge, even as far afield as Australia, California and Mediterranean countries.
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