About Oncoba spinosa Forssk.
Oncoba spinosa, commonly known as the snuff-box tree, fried egg tree, or fried-egg flower, is a plant species in the genus Oncoba. It was traditionally classified in the family Flacourtiaceae, but is now placed in the willow family, Salicaceae. It is a small deciduous tree, usually no taller than 5 meters, though it may occasionally reach 12 meters (39 feet) in height, and it grows simple leaves. Its flowers are 9 cm (3.5 in) wide, with up to seventeen white petals and an attractive yellow center formed by stamens, giving them an appearance similar to a fried egg. Flowers emerge just before or around the time new leaves grow, and the tree can remain in bloom for up to three months. In southern Africa, its blooming period falls between September and December. The fruit of Oncoba spinosa is hard-shelled, globose, and has a pointed tip. It can grow up to 80 mm in diameter, and ranges in color from yellow to reddish-brown. This tree is widely distributed along the eastern side of Africa, extending as far south as South Africa. It grows mainly in dry woodland or open savanna, across a wide variety of sites ranging from river valleys to rocky hills. Its northernmost distribution is on the eastern side of the Red Sea in Arabia.
