# Kiggelaria

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{{Short description|Genus of trees}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = 1 Kiggelaria africana tree - Cape Town.jpg
|genus = Kiggelaria
|parent_authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
|species = africana
|authority = L.
}}

'''''Kiggelaria africana''''' (also known as the '''wild peach''' or '''umKokoko''') is a large, robust, low-branching [Africa](/source/Africa)n tree, and is currently the only accepted species in the genus '''''Kiggelaria'''''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Kiggelaria|title=Search results — The Plant List|website=www.theplantlist.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref>

Despite its common name, ''Kiggelaria africana'' is not related to the more familiar fruit-producing [peach tree](/source/peach) (''Prunus persica'') although the leaves do look similar, if only very superficially. Unlike peach leaves, they are fairly thick and stiff, with a thin coating of fur on the undersides.

==Appearance==
A well-shaped, robust, [evergreen tree](/source/Evergreen) with grey-green leaves, it grows up to 20 m (66 ft) in the wild. The smooth bark is pale grey in colour and the tree tends to be low-branching. The wild peach is [dioecious](/source/dioecious) (having separate male and female trees) and its tiny flowers are bell-shaped and a yellowish colour. The flowers are followed later in the summer by round, green capsules. These split open once ripe and the seeds, which are each covered in a layer of bright orange-red flesh, are eaten and spread by birds.

==Distribution==
This tree grows across southern and eastern [Africa](/source/Africa) - from [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town) in the south, northwards as far as [Kenya](/source/Kenya). It occurs naturally in [Afromontane forests](/source/Afromontane) as well as by the coast, in bushveld and along rivers.

==Growing ''Kiggelaria africana''==
The wild peach is a very tough, hardy and fast-growing tree. It prefers a sunny position (but tolerates shade) and a moderate amount of water. It also survives frost. It naturally forms a large shade tree with a gentle, non-invasive root system, but also makes a good windbreak or hedge. If a conventional "tree shape" is required, then the shoots that grow from the tree's lower trunk should be removed. A multitude of birds enjoy the tiny red fruits and will consequently be attracted to this tree, as are ''[Acraea horta](/source/Acraea_horta)'' butterflies. Their caterpillars sometimes eat the tree bare, but this is part of a natural process and the ''Kiggelaria'' trees always rapidly regrow their foliage.

This tree can easily be propagated from seed. Young plants grow fast and begin flowering after only a year or two.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pza.sanbi.org/kiggelaria-africana|title=Kiggelaria africana {{!}} PlantZAfrica|website=www.pza.sanbi.org|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
Kiggelaria africana - 9.JPG|Detail of the foliage
Kiggelaria africana, manlike blomme, a, Seringveld.jpg|Detail of male flower
Kiggelaria africana open fruit capsule IMG 5067.JPG|Open fruit capsule. The leaf damage is largely caused by larvae of the butterfly ''Acraea horta''
Kiggelaria africana seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg|Seeds
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Kiggelaria}}
*van Wyk, B. and van Wyk, P. 1997. ''Field Guide to trees of South Africa''. Struik, Cape Town

{{Taxonbar|from=Q9017548}}

Category:Achariaceae
Category:Achariaceae genera
Category:Monotypic Malpighiales genera
Category:Afromontane flora
Category:Trees of South Africa
Category:Trees of Mediterranean climate
Category:Garden plants of Africa
Category:Ornamental trees
Category:Dioecious plants
Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kiggelaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiggelaria) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiggelaria?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.