Where to find this tree easily

Umdoni Waterberry occurs, in its favoured habitats, along the southern Cape coast, east of Port Elizabeth, northwards through eastern and central KwaZul-Natal, the entire Lowveld, and most of the Bushveld. It is essentially water-loving and is found in permanently moist soil and areas of high rainfall. It has a long flowering season from October to June with the fleshy, deep purple berries often on the tree at the same time, as the season advances.

AFRIKAANS Waterbessie, Waterhout, Umdoni   N. SOTHO Monhlo, Montlho   SISWATI umCozi TSONGA Muthwa, Muhlwa TSWANA Kowa, Mokowa   VENDA Mˆutu   XHOSA umJome, umSwi ZULU umDoni

General Information Form and Features

• This is a single-trunked, low-branching tree that branches to form a blue-green, dense, semi-circular canopy.
• Stemless leaves are round, and are clustered towards the ends of thick twigs, with successive pairs at right angles, forming distinct rosettes.
• The central vein is yellow and conspicuous.
• Characteristic pin-cushion flowers grow in bunches at the ends of the branchlets and twigs, in the leaf-rosettes.
• Succulent berries turn deep purple when ripe and are conspicuous from October to May.
• Dark and coarse bark may even be corky in older trees.

Seasonal Changes

Evergreen. This tree can be identified throughout the year.

Young twigs and branchlets are square in cross-section. 

Bark

Simple, opposite leaves are blue-green, leathery and smooth, with a distinct, yellow, central vein. They are almost round, with a deeply notched base that clamps the twig. The margins are smooth. New leaves are bright red (30 - 100 x 20 - 80 mm).

Flowers

The sweet-smelling, pin-cushion-like flowers are creamy-white to pinkish and are rich in nectar (Oct - Jun) (Bunch: 100 mm; individual: 20 x 25 mm).

Fruit

The fleshy, berry-like fruit grows in bunches in the leaf-rosettes, resembling posies (Jun - Jan)
(13 - 20 x 10 mm).
 

Gardening

Water-berry is a very attractive garden tree, but must be planted near water. It has an aggressive root system, and grows well in a container. Quick-growing from seed, but not frost-resistant, it can withstand extended periods of water-logging. It does well as a stabiliser for stream and river banks, and can be planted as a shade tree in swampy areas.

Human uses

Succulent berries are edible and are sometimes used to make beer. The wood has a beautiful grain, and is used for furniture and canoes. An extract of the leaves was used as a purgative, but apparently also for treatment
of diarrhoea, and to treat stomach and respiratory disorders such as tuberculosis, colds and fever. Fish poison is made from powdered bark while bark and roots were used for headaches and wounds.

Caterpillars of two Charaxes and three Playboy butterflies feed on this tree, as does the Emperor Moth, Family Saturniidae. The fruit is eaten by monkeys, baboons, bushpigs and bushbabies, as well as many birds, like Tambourine Doves, African Green-Pigeons, Purple-crested and Knysna Turacos. Kudu, nyala, bushbuck and Grey Duiker browse the foliage. Ball-like webs are made by the bright ginger Tailor Ant, Oecophylla longinoda, which favours this tree.