Marula Tree

Setswana Name:  Morula
 
Botanical Name: 

Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra

 
Family:

Mango family (Anacardiaceae)
 

Marula is a medium to large tree, usually 9 metres tall, but can grow up to 18 metres. It is single-stemmed with a dense, spreading crown and deciduous foliage. Only the female trees bear fruits, while the male tree displays flower. The tree grows well between 769 to 921m in elevation, and occurs in semi-arid to sub humid portions of Africa. The Marula does not flourish in deep sand and therefore occurs on firm soil. It is widely distributed in the Okavango Delta.
 
The history of the marula tree goes back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows the marula tree was a source of nutrition as long as ago as 10,000 years B.C. Not only the fruit, but also the nut, are rich in minerals and vitamins. There are many legends on the multiple uses of the tree, the bark, the leaves, fruit, nut and kernels.
 
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. It was a dietary mainstay in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia throughout ancient times.
 
Marula wood has been traditionally used for carving pestles and mortars, bowls, drums, beehives and stools and even canoes in some areas.
 
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. Essence from the leaves is said to provide a remedy for abscesses, spider bites and burns.
 
The kernel of the marula, though small, is tasty and a rich source of protein in local communities. In the Kalahari, Bushmen used a mongongo or wild almond nut, which is outscored by the kernel of the marula nut. Analyses show the marula kernel has up to 3,100 kJ per 100gm, with a high protein and fat content.
 

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 pulp is used as a base for juices, jams, jellies, ciders and alcohol drinks. The peel of the fruit is believed to have more than 27 different kinds of flavours and contains ten newly-isolated volatile esters that may be able to be extracted for use in aromatherapy, homeopathic medicines and essential oils and the freeze dried pulp of the marula fruit can be used in a number of cosmetic applications. Other products are the marula tea and as flavourant for ice –creams, etc. The fruit pulp contains up to four times vitamin C than oranges. Even though this fruit is seasonal, it can be processed into pulp in large volumes and stored frozen for a period of over a year.
 

Tradition has it that Hare acted kindly towards Elephant during the year of drought, and was rewarded with a tusk. This he planted in his garden, which grew into a beautiful fruit-bearing tree. And so the elephant gave up his precious tusk, and the Hare was able to enjoy marula fruit in the time of famine. Forever after, the elephant seeks out its tusk and devours hundreds of kilograms of fruit during the marula season.