The National Academies Press

Currently Skimming:

Pages 117-134

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.

From page 117... ... Many Africans consider a gift of marula nuts a sign of signal friendship. In some societies, the tree ranks as a major food supplier, its economic and social importance being such that they are said to have a "marula culture."2 Marulas are plum-sized stone fruits with a thick yellow peel and translucent white flesh. Read the entire page →
From page 118... ... Marula fruits are not picked: they harvest themselves by conveniently falling off while still green and hard. They hit the ground without bruising, and subsequently ripen within about five days. Read the entire page →
From page 119... ... 1966. The nutrient composition of some edible wild fruits found in the Transvaal. Read the entire page →
From page 120... ... In South Africa, as many as 91,000 fruits have been counted on a single tree in a good year.7 In Namibia 4.5 tons of fruit have been measured in single season on a single large tree.8 6 Information from Pierre du Plessis. 7 This figure is in Quin, P.I. Read the entire page →
From page 121... ... Oils are also extracted from the nuts and put into pricey skin products, a process pioneered in Namibia, which even exports marula oil for this purpose. PROSPECTS Presently marula is considered a subtropical crop of limited adaptation but considerable promise. Read the entire page →
From page 122... ... Consider the following. Fresh Fruits The fruits are eaten fresh in many parts of subtropical southern Africa. Read the entire page →
From page 123... ... Nuts Marula nuts are used to flavor dishes of meat, greens, and porridge as well as being pounded into flour and pressed into cakes. The kernels can also be used like walnut or pecan in baking. Read the entire page →
From page 124... ... NUTRITION Although marula fruit pulp is an important source of micronutrients, vitamin C is what makes it nutritionally interesting. The flesh commonly contains 180 mg vitamin C per 100 g, but the concentrations can go even higher. Read the entire page →
From page 125... ... They had a deeper yellow color, a higher juice content, and lower acidity. Fruits kept at 4°C remained green and firm for 14 days, and seemed undamaged, but after five days at room temperature (20°C) Read the entire page →
From page 126... ... 126 LOST CROPS OF AFRICA LIMITATIONS Marula fruits and seedlings are favorites of many animals; all plantings therefore need careful protection. In southern Africa, elephants are among the principal seed-dispersing agents. Read the entire page →
From page 127... ... Nonetheless, bigger commercial markets will provide income opportunities for rural producers lacking the space or capital to plant thousands of trees for commerce. And beyond that, marula can contribute to rural development on many levels, not to mention nutrition and food security for people lacking the money to buy food. Read the entire page →
From page 128... ... Further selection of outstanding wild trees for production of fresh fruit, processed fruit products, and nut is needed. A larger fruit having a smaller stone and perhaps a thinner skin would obviously be more desirable for most purposes. Read the entire page →
From page 129... ... Perhaps, too, hybrids between subspecies caffra and subspecies birrea are possible, bringing great benefits to both. 18 Information from Elaine Solowey. Read the entire page →
From page 130... ... However, cases of self-fertile hermaphrodite trees producing some 19 Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra occurs naturally in Southern Africa; subsp multifoliolata in central Tanzania; subsp. Read the entire page →
From page 131... ... Horticultural Varieties A number of improved clones producing large fruits weighing up to 100 g and with a variety of skin colors are known in South Africa and neighboring nations. Environmental Requirements This is an exceptionally drought tolerant species, and its resistance to heat, harsh sunlight, and difficult conditions is legendary. Read the entire page →
From page 132... ... 132 LOST CROPS OF AFRICA Low Temperature Marula grows and bears best in warm to hot subtropical to tropical climates, but (when leafless in winter) can tolerate light frosts. Read the entire page →

From page 117...

... Many Africans consider a gift of marula nuts a sign of signal friendship. In some societies, the tree ranks as a major food supplier, its economic and social importance being such that they are said to have a "marula culture."2 Marulas are plum-sized stone fruits with a thick yellow peel and translucent white flesh.