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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Anacardiaceae
|familia=Anacardiaceae
|genus=Sclerocarya
|genus=Sclerocarya
|species=birrea
|species=birrea
|common_name=Maroola plum, Marula
|common_name=Maroola plum/nut, Marula, jelly plum, cat thorn, morula, cider tree
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|habit=tree
|habit=tree
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|max_zone=12
|image=Upload.png
|image=Marula02.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
}}
}}
The '''[[Marula]]''' (''Sclerocarya birrea'') is a medium-sized [[dioecious]] tree, indigenous to Southern and West Africa. The tree is a single stemmed tree with a wide spreading crown. It is characterised by a grey mottled bark. The tree grows up to 18m tall mostly in low altitudes and open woodlands. The [[fruit]]s are used in the [[liqueur]] [[Amarula]].
When ripe, the fruits have a light yellow skin, with white flesh, rich in [[vitamin C]] - about 8 times the amount found in an [[orange (fruit)|orange]] - are succulent, [[Acid|tart]] with a strong and distinctive flavour.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wickens |first=G. E. |coauthors=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |title=Edible Nuts |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/V8929E/v8929e00.htm |accessdate=2008-11-10 |series=Non-Wood Forest Products |volume=5 |year=1995 |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |location=[[Rome]] |isbn=92-5-103748-5 |oclc=34529770 |chapter=Potential Edible Nuts |chapterurl=http://www.fao.org/docrep/V8929E/v8929e06.htm}}</ref> Inside is a walnut-sized, thick-walled [[seed|stone]]. These stones, when dry, expose the seeds by shedding 2 (sometimes 3) small circular plugs at one end. The seeds have a delicate nutty flavour and are much sought after, especially by small rodents who know to gnaw exactly where the plugs are located.
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
<gallery perrow=5>
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Marula01.jpg|Green Marula fruits
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:marula00.jpg|Marula seeds
File:Marula04.jpg|Marula trunk
</gallery>
</gallery>
