Psychotria capensis subsp. capensis red fruit

Red Psychotria capensis subsp. capensis fruit have already been yellow and may still become black. The fruit is an ovoid, one-stoned drupe, about 7 mm long.

They are seen on the trees from late summer to winter, growing in dense, flat-topped clusters of 10 cm in diameter. Fruit-eating birds attracted to them and ending up dispersing the seeds include bulbuls, starlings, robins and barbets.

Lateral veins on the dark-green leaves in picture are much fainter and meandering than the straight and stark, cream-coloured midribs (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1993).