Marula season is a time of festivity … Also, the fruit is a great source of vitamins, minerals and protein for human beings and animals alike. They are edible and are very high in vitamin C (levels up to four times higher than an orange). The marula tree produces the legendary marula fruit which is used to make liquor and is also enjoyed by many African animals including elephants. A decent consolation prize, we think. Fruit Trees > Subtropical Fruit Trees > Marula. It may be eaten fresh and the flesh has an extremely high vitamin C content. The marula fruit tree (Sclerocarya birrea) is native to parts of southern Africa.The trees grow wild and were once rare, but are now cultivated. It also has 2 small very tasty high protein nuts. They took the fruit with them when they migrated, because it is such a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Marula is a medium to large tree, usually 9 metres tall, but can grow up to 18 metres. Reason enough for some! Also, the other animals that favor this fruit generally eat it fresh and ripe off the branches, instead of rotting on the ground. Legends abound on the multiple uses of the tree, the bark, the leaves, fruit, nut and kernels. The nutritious little fruit is the size of a small plum, but it packs a punch. Or even more idyllically, enjoy it on a ‘safari drives’ with the elephants. It is then delivered to processing plants where everything, including the fruit pulp, pips, kernels and kernel oil are extracted from the fruit. Unlike other traditional trees, the marula fruits fall off while they are still hard and green. Marula Tree Fruit. (Plus More Interesting Info), The Benefits and Uses of the Marula Fruit, Cheetah vs Leopard(Battle Of The Big Cats), Fascinating Elephant Sounds And What They Mean, Victoria Falls in July | The Best Victoria Falls Tours for 2020/2021. During colonial times it was even used for tomato boxes and toilet seats. They bloom from September to November and then bear edible fruit between January and March. The marula tree is indigenous to the miombo woodlands of southern Africa. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees, the flowers of male plants producing pollen and the female flowers producing the fruit for which the tree is so well known. Fruit of the Marula Tree (Scelerocarya birrea). Marula fruit are normally processed and conserved into various product forms (e.g. The first day’s Marula beer is called Tuvhu. Marula prune only branches that grow down, the season to prune it’s autumn to winter. The marula tree is one of Namibia’s most versatile and thus important indigenous trees. The bark of the tree has medicinal properties and is used widely in treating dysentery and diarrhoea, rheumatism, insect bites and a variety of other ailments. Marula fruit ripens from January to April when the ripe fruit falls to the ground. It has the lowest alcohol percentage, and it is sweet and tasty. Looking for a quick escape from the bustling streets of Johannesburg? It is one of the plants that played a role in feeding people in ancient times. It allows the Marula tree to reduce harmful mutations. The making of this beer is a much appreciated skill set, and each batch can taste different, depending on which trees it was harvested from, the age (in days, not years), and the technique of the woman who makes it. Because the Marula fruit ferments so quickly, there are three different kinds of Marula beer, each made a day apart to get different alcohol percentages and tastes. For years the tree’s fruit has been used to … The skin of the marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, at eight times more than an orange. So perhaps we all want to believe this tale of debauchery . These fruits have a socio-economic importance to many people groups, from Kwazulu-Natal to Ethiopia. Marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, containing eight times more of it than an orange. The Marula tree is also known as: • The king of African trees because it is resistant to drought and every part has been used by indigenous people for thousands of years. You’ll find them in miombo woodland areas, the most famous of which is the Greater Kruger, one of Africa’s ultimate safari destinations. The skin of the marula fruit is incredibly high in vitamin C, at eight times more than an orange. The tall marula tree bears up to 500 kilograms of fruit annually. Marula fruit comes from medium sized tree that belongs to Brachystegia genus. This fruit has socio-economic importance within communities, and it provides a much needed source of income for those who most need it. It is a deciduous tree belonging to the same family as cashew, mango and pistachio. The story of elephants eating marula fruit, and getting absolutely hammered, was first heard in the early 1800s however, this theory has sadly since been put to rest – sorry if you were hoping to catch an elephant in a drunken daze. Only the female tree can bear fruit. Like these plants, parts of the marula are also edible. Marula Tree and Fruit – Drunken Elephant Time? Even the green leaves are eaten to relieve heartburn. The fruit form varies from almost spherical to oval with a tough, strong skin, which is light yellow when ripe. The fruit of the marula tree is very popular and sought after. The marula tree, along with the delicious marula fruit it bears, has a long history with Africa, one that dates as far back as 10,000 BC. See them on an elephant safari to take in their majestic and often amusing antics. Marula beer is very popular in rural Southern African populations. Dans le film de Jamie Uys Animals Are Beautiful People (en) , sorti en 1974, des scènes montrent des éléphants, des autruches, des phacochères et des singes saouls après avoir consommé des fruits fermentés. It is single-stemmed with a dense, spreading crown and deciduous foliage. However, the tale is unfortunately untrue. The tree grows well between 769 to 921m in elevation, and occurs in semi-arid to sub humid portions of Africa. Where they are found The marula tree can be found in South Africa in Mpumalanga’s Lowveld and the Kruger National Park. Essence from the leaves is said to provide a remedy for abscesses, spider bites and burns. Whether or not the Marula holds entertainment value in getting animals drunk, we are still a big fan of this little fruit. The animals then proceed to stagger and behave like drunkards. marula tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images The nut in the centre is also high in protein. This means that they cannot self-fertilize, they have to be fertilized by the pollen of the opposite gender. Well, you might be astounded to know that in Swaziland alone, there are about 2 million Marula Trees and, on average, a mature tree can produce up to 500kg of fruit a year. It will reach this size in about 30 years. A mature tree can yield up to 500kg of fruit in a year. Popularly known as the fruit that gets elephants and humans drunk, we can see why it would be a fan favorite. Preliminary tests show weak pharmalogical activity relative to hypertension, anti-inflammation and painkilling. Not only the fruit, but also the nut, are rich in minerals and vitamins. The marula is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree with an erect trunk and rounded crown. It is, of course, the strongest, and only for the brave. It may also be cooked to produce jam, juices and alcoholic beverages. Wonderful fertilizer to start out a seed’s chances at life. CURIOSITY. We estimate that this is a typical size and shape that one can expect a Marula tree to achieve in a garden setting with ideal soil and water availability. Marula tree plant it in the spring need female and male to bear fruit, doesn’t need a lot of water, grow fast and need full sun. It is delicious eaten fresh, or may be cooked to produce jams, juices, or alcoholic beverages. It is certainly a South African favorite for a reason. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. There is even legend that a woman can take bark from the male or female tree. Many parts of the tree are used in traditional medicinal remedies. Marula wood has been traditionally used for carving pestles and mortars, bowls, drums, beehives and stools and even canoes in some areas. So if you’ve ever wondered what the animals are after, give it a go. Marula is a medium to large tree, usually 9 metres tall, but can grow up to 18 metres. Clearly, this is no ordinary grocery store classic. Folk medicine uses the roots, bark, and leaves of the tree to cure a number of illnesses. It is then stored for processing throughout the year and used for various purposes, including other alcoholic drinks, and cosmetics. And long before Amarula Cream became one of South Africa’s best exports, rural women were making “buganu”. It is characterized by a grey mottled bark. With its single-stem trunk and wide-spreading crown, the tree grows between 9 and 18 meters tall and bears the coveted Marula fruit that only grows for a short window in the year. The third and final day’s beer is called Lutanda. It also has wide-spread branches, and the fruits ripen between December and March, the summer months of Southern Africa. Marula beer is one of the favorite benefits of this tart fruit. The Marula bears small round shaped fruit; (green in colour when unripe) that ripens to a yellow colour and can be harvested by being collected from the ground from January to March. The fruit flesh is soft, whitish, and contains fibers. It’s a tree native to Southern Africa, and is used in the fermentation of the national liqueur of South Africa called Amarula – a milky liqueur similar to Bailey’s Irish Cream, but it does have its own unique taste.I quite like it. Marula is a medium sized tree belonging to the Brachystegia genus. This vast area is home to the Sclerocarya Birrea, also known as the marula tree. It is native to many African countries including South Africa, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Botswana, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and a few more. The fruit from the Marula tree taste like a caramel flavored alcohol that the wild animals love to eat.You can buy distilled Marula Tree liqueur (17% alcohol) from a … Most well known as the fruit that 'drives elephants mad' when dropped to the ground and lightly fermented, marula is a much-loved tree in the veld in Africa. Of course, the picture of drunk wild animals staggering about and behaving uncharacteristically (but very recognisably for those of us who have enjoyed a bit too much) is very funny. The second day’s beer is Neshana, and it’s alcohol percentage is higher, while the taste is less sweet, more sour. It is high in vitamin C and can be eaten fresh. The fruit and bark of the tree has many popular uses, including medicinal uses.. Introduction of Marula Fruit Scientific name - Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya birrea, commonly known as the Marula is a medium-sized dioecious tree, native to the Miombo woodlands of Southern Africa, the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa, and Madagascar. Not only does it feature in countless African fables, but its fruit also offers a range of uses that go beyond it simply providing a tasty snack – truly one of Africa’ botanical treasures. The fruit has different color, as they are in … The nutritious little fruit is the size of a small plum, but it packs a punch. The liqueur Amarula is made from the marula fruit. The fruit is harvested off of their communal land by members of the community. There are male and female trees, each with their own type of flowers. The fruit is cooked until the water changes colour and is then removed. It is also cooked and used to produce juices, jams and alcoholic drinks. The Marula fruit is a good source of income for struggling rural communities, beyond the beer. The scientific name of the Marula fruit tree is Sclerocarya Birrea. The story goes that the ripe fruit falls from the branches of the Marula tree. African Animals Getting Drunk From Ripe Marula Fruit - YouTube The scientific name of the Marula fruit tree is Sclerocarya Birrea. Interestingly, Marula trees are gendered. While the fruit does indeed ferment quickly, the elephants would need to eat a huge amount of the fermented Marulas, and it’s unlikely that they ever do this. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The green marula fruit is the size of a small plum, and very juicy and flavourful. The tree produces bark, fruit, roots, and seeds that are used in a number of applications. The tree is protected in South Africa. The Marula tree has a long history with Africa and Africans, dating as far back as 10,000 BC. Fascinatingly enough, only the female trees bears fruits, while the male tree displays flower. Jamie Uys made the story popular (originally stemming from Zulu folklore) in his 1974 documentary “Beautiful People”. Marula trees belong to the family Anacardiaceae, and are related to mangoes, pistachios, and cashews. The tree bears its fruit from January through to March and bears approximately 500kg of fruit every year. As it is women who are the creators of this wonderous beer, they are also the main benefactors. And the narrator makes us all believe that the Marula fruit is nature’s own liquor, and a local favorite amongst these deviant animals. The marula fruit, which ripens from January to March, is the size of a small plum, and has 4 times more Vitamin C than an orange. A 3-day ... For those wanting to make a quick escape into the wilderness, a two-day safari from Johannesburg to ... 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