Strychnos pungens  Soler. – Monkey orange  - Loganiaceae

Strychnos pungens, a small evergreen tree fairly widely distributed in central and western Transvaal, Botswana and parts of southwest Africa, has local names of monkey orange, kaffir orange and klapper.  This and other species in which the dry seeds rattle in their shells are called “klapper.”

Large round fruits about four inches in diameter (10 cm.) have a thick, woody, blue-green rind.  Many translucent seeds are embedded in a strong-smelling pulp.  The dried fruits are sometimes made into musical instruments or drinking vessels.  The Thonga people of South Africa credit the seeds with the power of attracting lightning.²²

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