Monkey Oranges

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Genus Strychnos

The genus Strychnos has about 9 representatives in South Africa, of which we are featuring two large-fruited species in this post. While the fruit pulp is edible and even delicious in certain species, if you are not certain with which species you are dealing the seeds should never be chewed or swallowed as many are extremely poisonous; the poisons strychnine and curare come from plants in this genus.

Both the Black and Green Monkey Oranges are small, deciduous trees with many branches and irregular growth forms. The fruit are huge (up to 12cm in diameter) and take very long to ripen, with a thick husk protecting the fleshy pulp and densely-packed seeds.

Monkey Orange leaves are browsed by a wide variety of animals, and the fruit is eaten by baboons, monkeys, large antelope and bushpigs. Humans eat the pulp of the fruit (it is often dried and powdered for preservation). The wood of the Green Monkey Orange lends itself to carving, as does the husks of the fruit of both species, which is often sold as ornaments in curio stalls. The roots of the Black Monkey Orange are ground and taken as a tea to induce vomiting. The root, bark and unripe fruit of the Green Monkey Orange is used in traditional medicine to treat venomous snake bites; it is thought that the strychnine or similar alkaloid it contains might counteract the effects of the snake venom. The seeds of the Green Monkey Orange should therefore definitely not be eaten, though the fruit pulp surrounding the seeds is apparently delicious.

While both species are well known from the savanna and forest regions of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal, only the Green Monkey Orange’s distribution extends into the Eastern Cape and as far as the Garden Route.

Black Monkey Orange – Strychnos madagascariensis

Black Monkey Orange
Black Monkey Orange
Black Monkey Orange fruit
Black Monkey Orange leaves
Black Monkey Orange fruit
Black Monkey Orange
Black Monkey Orange

Green (Natal) Monkey Orange – Strychnos spinosa

Green Monkey Orange fruit
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange
Green Monkey Orange

24 thoughts on “Monkey Oranges”

      3. naturebackin

        It was presented to us by a game ranger at Ndumo and we both had just a taste of the pulp that he assured us was fine (if funny tasting!). He had some first but after we tasted he spat his out! Somewhere along the way I did learn that the seeds are poisonous and the botanical name is a bit of a warning!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. BETH

    Who would ever dream so much good and so much bad could be in one fruit? I have often wondered how the original people managed to find the natural help with sicknesses and injuries they needed.

    Liked by 2 people

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  4. Aletta - nowathome

    Ek wonder of die dieselfde as die Monkey Balls is wat almal in Eshowe dit geniem het? Het ‘n baie harde dop en naie droog dit uit en versier dit met helder kleure, Word dan gewoonlik op ‘n hout bak gepak vir versierings!

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  6. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

    Het ek nou gewonder wat die Afrikaanse naam is. Dis so bekend en ek kon net nie op botterklapper kom nie! Dankie dat jy dit weer in Afr geskryf het ook. Botterklappers is altyd langs die pad verkoop. Daars nog van die ander wilde vrugte wat vir “n paar sent verkoop word as dit in seisoen was. (dink aan stamvrugte, wilde vye)

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Ek kan my indink dat daardie paar sente langs die pad n groot verskil maak in sulke arm gemeenskappe, en dit gee natuurlik ook n rede om die plante op te pas.

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