THE JACKALBERRY TREE

Scientific name: Diospyros Mespiliformis

Common name: Jackalberry

Jackals probably loved the fruits of this tree, hence it is commonly known as the jackalberry tree. Humans love it too, though. This evergreen tree, which can grow up to 16 metres tall, has a broad crown and medium-shaped leaves. It loves water and can be seen in the open plains of northern Namibia, often surrounding natural earth dams. This imposing tree with its beautiful silhouette is one of the most photogenic trees for sunset pictures.

The jackalberry tree has simple leaves that are quite smooth and a scaly grey bark with hard wood. Although not a particularly popular wood, it can be used as firewood, or to carve kitchen utensils and canoes. Unlike the gigantic baobab tree, which bears big flowers, the flowers of the jackalberry tree are tiny, creamy in colour and bear spherical fruits which are edible. These berries vary in size, but they are not bigger than marula fruits. They grow between January to August, and the fruits turn from green to brown when they are ripe. The berries are sold in open markets or at festivals and form part of the circular economy within our rural areas.

The berries are naturally sweet and can be eaten either moist or dried. The common practice among rural communities is to collect these berries while moist and then dry them for later consumption. While humans collect the berries, livestock such as goats, sheep and donkeys snack on these berries too. Birds also enjoy snacking on this sweet fruit. I have heard of people making a traditional beverage from these fruits. Enthused by the ancestors’ ability to brew something from almost any fruit, this is a tasting treat that I have put on my bucket list.

Trees that bear edible fruits are my favourite, but trees that have a personal story attached to my childhood are unforgettable. I can recall the very first memories of my village kindergarten at the tender age of three in the mid-nineties. A very big jackalberry tree was near the kindergarten and it is still standing tall today. That tree provided us with shade and served as our playground. Today certain community meetings are still held under it.

Jackalberry trees are resilient and live for quite a long time. Most of the ones I remember seeing in my village and nearby villages during my younger years are still alive. Their distribution seems to be quite stable, with a minimal decrease in population of this particular species. Although they still bear fruit, quite a decrease in fruiting can be observed in some trees. Some of these trees’ fruits no longer taste the same, while other trees have almost entirely stopped fruiting. In most cases, it is either lightning strikes or ageing that causes the trees to die, with little to no visible natural regeneration.

The jackalberry tree is amongst the few trees in Namibia being underutilised, but they offer ecosystem services to communities with less threats to humans compared to other trees. Owing to its nature of loving water in abundance and often existing in proximity of rivers or natural earth dams, they thrive well regardless of the lack of natural regeneration. The thought of planting jackalberry trees has never crossed my mind, but the fact that it contributes to the circular economy would be a valid reason for trying to sow seeds and consider reforestation. This is a trial still to be explored. As the common saying goes: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second-best time is now.”

Agnes Shekupe Shivute