umkokola, small, thorny S and E African tree ( Dovyalis caffra, also called kei-apple), widely cultivated in its native area for the round or oval bright yellow fruits. Their juicy pulp, acid in flavor, is used for preserves and jams. A related and similarly grown tree of Sri Lanka and India, the kitembilla, or Ceylon gooseberry ( D. hebecarpa ), bears somewhat smaller and sweeter dark purple fruits. Both species have been introduced into the American tropics and are sometimes cultivated in other warm regions as hedge plants. Umkokolas are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Flacourtiaceae.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.