The genus Maerua comprises about 60 species found in Africa and Asia. Maerua is a genus of plant in family Capparaceae. The origin of the name Maerua is uncertain, but it may come from Arabic.

Maerua racemulosa, synonymously known as Boscia caffra, Maerua pedunculosa or Niebuhria pedunculosa and commonly known as Forest Bush-cherry, Forest Maerua or Forest Spider Bush in English and Wilde-patat or Witboshout in Afrikaans is a South African indigenous found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Provinces where it is a constituent of shady forest understory and valley bushveld. They are shrubs or small trees, with mostly simple leaves, and entire margins. They flower profusely in mid-winter. Each flower bears numerous white filaments and a purple style, but no petals. The round fruit appear from August to October. These are yellow when ripe and 1 cm in diameter. It is a food plant for some species of Colotis butterfly.