Apodytes dimidiata
English: White pear; UmDakane.
Region: Southern Africa, tropical and subtropical Africa, southern China, India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines
Habitat: sparse woods, dense forests, scrub; elevations of 500 - 1,900 metres; coastal thicket, afro-montane forest, mountainous bushveld.
Use: plant around paved areas, near swimming pools, next to buildings, for shade.
Use: wood for good quality timber
Botany
Bushy tree; 5 m tall, 20 m in deep forest.
Roots: non-invasive.
Use: plant around paved areas, near swimming pools, next to buildings, for shade.
Stem: Bark smooth, gray.
Leaves: dense, shiny foliage; bright-green.
Flowers: white; tiny; bisexual; fragrant sweet, like fresh coconut.
Fruits: small; black, red, scarlet; strangely curved berries; not fleshy.
Taxonomy
This is a very difficult tree to identify at first. It is often confused with Pterocelastrus rostratus. The best identifying characteristics of Apodytes dimidiata are its petiole and young terminal branchlets which are a unique reddish colour.