Name: Xylotheca means woody case.
Region: eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Transvaal, coastal Natal, Mozambique.
Habitat: sandy soil, coastal bush and forest.
BotanyShrub or small multi-stemmed tree.
Leaves: dull grey-green, alternate, covered in soft grey hairs.
Flowers: white, dense central cluster of yellow anthers, resembling a small white rose.
Fruit: ovoid woody capsule, about 40 mm long, distinctly ridged; yellow when ripe; partly splits into 5 sections revealing black seeds with a bright red aril; pulp around the seeds is relished by birds.
TaxonomyUsed to belong to the family
Flacourtiaceae.