OVER 800 PHOTOGRAPHS FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION

.
 Dedicated to those who are closest to me:
my wife, Emmarentia and our children — Ronel,
Noelien, Roelof and Lirentia.

RIELD GUIDE TO THE

TREES OR THE
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

May you who use this book be so impressed by the

greatness of God’s Creation that you will defend its
conservation with might and main.
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2021 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetotreeQ000vanw
 EieOGwUIbE TO THE
TREES OF THE
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

PIET VAN WYK, M.Sc.

Head of the Department of Research and Information

National Parks Board of South Africa
 C. Struik (Pty) Ltd
Oswald Pirow Street, Foreshore
Cape Town 8001
First edition 1984
Copyright text and photographs © P. van Wyk
Photoset by McManus Bros. (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town
Reproduction, printing and binding by
Tien Wah Press (Pte) Ltd, Singapore
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the permission of the copyright owner.
ISBN 0 86977 221 X (softcover)
ISBN 0 86977 223 3 (hardcover)
 CONTENTS

Preface 7
Glossary 9
Introduction 13
Explanatory drawings 14
Road map of the Kruger National Park 16
Vegetation map of the Kruger National Park 17

Descriptions of the tree species involved

Part I— (With illustrations) 20

Part Il— (Without illustrations) 223

a. Key to the species
b. Descriptions

Index of scientific names 253

Index of Afrikaans vernacular names 263
Index of English vernacular names 267
tf
 PREFACE

The introduction to the public of the various components, and indeed wonders,
found in a natural free-living system such as a national park is recognised inter-
nationally as one of the most important duties of a nature conservation body. It is
for this reason that the National Parks Board continues to provide information to
park visitors by means of, among other things, guidebooks. In the past the general
public were mainly interested only in the larger mammals but a complete change of
attitude during the past two decades has led to an ever-increasing demand for infor-
mation regarding all aspects of nature. Consequently, the early seventies marked
the beginning of a series of guidebooks published on the fishes, frogs, snakes, but-
terflies, etc. of the Kruger National Park. One of these guides was a publication, in
two volumes, on the trees of the Kruger Park. Unfortunately these two volumes are
no longer in print and, as a result of today’s printing costs, a reprint cannot be con-
sidered. Because of the numerous enquiries received about the publication it is
clear, however, that there is a strong demand for this kind of information and that
something must be done to fill the gap. In the light of this a field guide, in other
words a condensed version of the existing publication in a handy portable format,
seemed to be the answer. As its name indicates, it is not meant to be a comprehen-
sive, authoritative work but rather an aid for interested visitors who would like to
identify trees in the Kruger Park, or other regions of southern Africa.
Of the approximately 1 100 plant species in the Republic of South Africa to
which tree status has been granted, about 380 are found in the Kruger Park. Of
these there are, however, according to my own idea of what a tree actually is, just
slightly more than 200 species which attain tree size. In Part I this group is discussed
and each species is illustrated with a photograph. The remaining 180 species are dis-
cussed briefly in Part II. In the Kruger Park they are shrubs or ‘shrub trees’ and
were included for the sake of completeness; in a forthcoming edition illustrations
may possibly be included as an identification aid. For the present a short, simple
key is given which will enable the reader to make an identification without much
effort — provided it is a plant that is discussed in the guide.
Because of space various plant families were not discussed, but the index indi-
cates to which family each species belongs.
As is customary in publications of this nature, expalantory drawings have been
included on pages 14 and 15 of leaves and a flower to elucidate terms used in the
text for the benefit of readers not acquainted with botanical nomenclature. In the
glossary beginning on page 9 some of the other words are defined where meanings
might be obscure to readers. a Wea
It also appears to be the practice in botany to give metric measures only in milli-
metres or metres. As I, personally, find it impossible to visualise a fairly large ob-
ject in millimetres, I have deliberately used centimetres. Unless otherwise stated,
the first of the two numbers in parentheses indicates the length, and the second the
breadth or diameter of the particular leaf, flower or fruit.
Many readers will notice that a number of scientific names have changedto some
extent. Unfortunately this is a problem we shall have to live with for quite some
time, and for this reason some of the names will probably already be outdated by
the time this book appears. Some of the vernacular names also differ from those
published in the latest National List of Trees but will be included in the next issue of
the publication due to appear this year.
As this publication is almost exclusively the work of one person, the list of ac-
knowledgements is relatively short. As it is, however, largely a condensed version
of the original publication, most of my co-workers are indirectly involved and I
would like to thank them once again.
I would also like to thank the following persons and institutions directly involved
in the publication of this book:

The National Parks Board of Trustees for permission to use the colour slides, Mrs
‘Bokkie’ Koekemoer and Miss Judy Jennings for typing both manuscripts, Mrs
Mitzi Schutte for translating the ‘Preface’ and ‘Introduction’; the publishers
C Struik for the trust they put in me by accepting the publication. Also those per-
sons in the firm who were directly involved in the publication, namely Messrs.
Pieter Struik, Peter Borchert and, in particular, Mr Wim Reinders (who was per-
sonally responsible for the publication) for his special interest, constructive ideas
and determination to run out a sterling product. I would also like to thank Gerhardt
van Rooyen of Struik for his work on the Afrikaans edition.

The following people also kindly made colour slides available:

Dr B. de Winter (Botanical Research Institute) for flowers (256) and (163.1); Dr F.

Von Breitenbach for tree (256), for flowers (28) and dry pods (163.1); Mr N. Jacob-
son (Transvaal Nature Conservation Section) for flowers (28); and Miss L. Stanton
(National Parks Board) for tree (60), fruit (256) and pods (163.1).

Apart from the sources mentioned in Trees of the Kruger National Park, 1 would
like to acknowledge the following sources of reference.
K. Coates Palgrave — Trees of Southern Africa
E. Palmer —A Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa
F. Von Breitenbach — Southern Cape Forests and Trees
F. Von Breitenbach — Various articles in connection with vernacular names in the
Dendrological Journal
J Von Breitenbach — “Taxonomic Notes on Wild Figs’ — Dendrological Journal Vol.
2 (1982) nos. 1 and 2, page 43.

PIET VAN WYK

PRETORIA (APRIL 1984)
 GLOSSARY

A D
achene — one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit. deciduous — plant which sheds leaves at end
acuminate — drawn out into a long point, of growth period or at maturity.
tapering, pointed. decussate — crossed; having paired leaves,
adnate — conjoined. succeeding pairs crossing at right angles.
alternate — not opposite, e.g. leaves, dehiscent — spontaneous opening of an organ
branches occurring at different levels or structure along certain lines or ina
successively on opposite sides of stem. definite direction.
anther — part of a stamen which produces dentate — toothed; with large saw-like teeth
pollen. on the margin.
apex (pl. apices) — tip or summit. dioecious — having sexes separate; having
apical — at tip or summit. male and female flowers on different
apiculate — forming abruptly to a small tip, as individuals.
leaf. dorsal — lying on or near back.
aril, arillus — additional integument formed drupe — superior, one-celled fruit with one
on some seeds after fertilization. or two seeds and the pericarp differentiated
asymmetrical — having two sides unlike or into a thin epicarp, a fleshy sarcocarp and a
disproportionate. hard endocarp, as a plum.
atypical — not typical, irregular.
axil — angle between leaf and twig or branch E
from which it springs. elliptic — oval-shaped.
emarginate — having a notch at apex; having
B a notched margin.
bilobate — having two lobes. entire — unimpaired; with continuous
bilocular — containing two cavities or margin.
chambers.
bipinnate — having leaflets growing in pairs FE
on paired stems. fascicle — small bundle or tuft, as of fibres or
leaves.
C flabellate —fan-shaped.
caducous — parts that fall off early. floret — one of the small individual flowers of
calyx — the outer whorl of floral leaves. a composite flower.
campanulate — bell-shaped.
capsule — any closed box-like vessel G
containing spores, seeds or fruits. genus, genera — group Of closely related
chartaceous — like paper. species, in classification of plants and
clavate — club-shaped, thickened at one end. animals.
conduplicate — one half of leaf is folded upon glabrous — with an even, smooth surface,
the other. hairless.
cordate — heart-shaped. globose — spherical or globe-shaped.
coriaceous — leathery.
corolla — petals of a flower. H
crenate — with scalloped margin. habitat — locality or external environment in
cuneate — wedge-shaped. which a plant or animal lives.
cupola-shaped — shaped like a cup. heartwood — darker, harder, central wood of
trees.
I peduncle — stem or stalk supporting flower or
imparipinnate — pinnate with an odd fruit.
terminal leaflet. pendent — hanging down.
indehiscent — does not open spontaneously. pergamentaceous — parchment-like.
inflorescence — number of florets rising from perianth — external floral whorls, including
common stalk. calyx and corolla.
petal — one of the parts of a corolla.
iL petiole — foot-stalk of a leaf.
lanceolate — slightly broad, or tapering, at petiolule — foot-stalk of a leaflet of a
base and tapering to the point; lance- compound leaf.
shaped. pilose — hairy, downy.
latex — milky, or clear, sometimes coloured pinna — primary division of pinnate leaf;
juice or emulsion of diverse composition feather or fin.
found in some plants. pinnate — divided in a feathery manner.
linear — tape- or thread-like. pseudo — false.
puberulous— covered with down or fine hair.
M pubescent — covered with soft hair or down.
mesocarp — middle layer of the pericarp.
midrib — large central vein of a leaf. R
mucro — stiff or sharp point abruptly raceme — inflorescence having a common
terminating an organ. axis and stalked flowers in acropetal
mucronate— abruptly terminated by a sharp succession, as hyacinth.
spine. rachis — stalk or axis.
reticulate — like network.
N revolute — rolled backwards from margin
net-veined — with veins in form of network. towards under surface.
node — the knob or joint of a stem at which
leaves arise. S
nodule — small knob-like structure. sapwood — more superficial, paler, softer
wood of trees.
O savanna — subtropical or tropical grassland
obcordate — inversely heart-shaped. with xerophilous vegetation and scattered
oblanceolate — inversely lanceolate. trees.
oblong — elongated rectangle. scabrous — rough.
obovate — inversely egg-shaped. semilunar — half-moon shaped.
opposite — leaves which are opposite one sepal — leaf-like division of the calyx.
another at same level on stem. serrate — notched along edge like a saw.
orbicular — round or shield-shaped. serrate-dentate — with serrate edges
ovate — egg-shaped. themselves toothed.
sessile — sitting directly on base without
IP support, stalk, pedicel or peduncle.
palmate — leaves divided into lobes arising sinuate — having a wavy, indented margin;
from common centre. winding, tortuous.
panicle — tuft or bunch of flowers, close or spatulate —spoon-shaped; a leaf with broad
scattered. rounded apex, thence tapering to base.
paripinnate — pinnate without a terminal spike — inflorescence with sessile flowers
leaflet. along axis.
pedicel — small, short foot-stalk of leaf, stamen — male organ of a flower consisting of
flower or fruit. stalk or filament with anther containing
pollen.

10
stellate — star-shaped. U
stigma — portion of pistil which receives umbel — arrangement of flowers springing
pollen. from acommon centre and forming a flat or
stipule — one or two foliaceous or rounded cluster.
membranaceous processes developed at the undulate — having wave-like elevations.
base of a leaf petiole, sometimes in tendril or unisexual — of one or other sex, distinctly
spine form. male or female.
subcordate — tending to be heart-shaped.
subfalcate — almost sickle-shaped. Vv
subglobose — almost spherical. venation — system or disposition of veins.
subsessile — with almost no stalk. villose — pubescent or having rather shaggy
hair.
iy viscid — sticky.
terminal — situated at the end.
tomentose — covered closely with matted WwW
hairs. whorl — circle of flowers or leaves arising
tubercle — small rounded protruberance. from one point.
tubiform — tube-shaped.

il
 INTRODUCTION

Each publication dealing with the Kruger National Park invariably starts with such
basic information as the park’s size, situation and climate. As this kind of infor-
mation is freely obtainable, only a brief summary is given here of facts of impor-
tance to readers who have only this source at their disposal.
The Kruger Park is one of the largest (almost 20 000 km’) proclaimed, and there-
fore officially protected, natural areas in the world, occupying some 2,5 percent of
South Africa’s total surface area. It is situated in the north-eastern part of the
Transvaal lowveld, and therefore also of the country. The park varies in altitude
between approximately 200 metres on the eastern plains to about 900 metres at Pre-
toriuskop/Malelane in the south-west. The six perennial rivers and numerous semi-
perennial streams flow through the park from west to east.
Although the average annual rainfall for the whole area is about 500 millimetres,
it varies from 375 millimetres (Pafuri) to 750 millimetres (Pretoriuskop); it is also
to March).
highly erratic and usually confined to the summer months (September
to fall in successive ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ cy-
Based on available information, rain seems
to ten years. Summer temperatu res often exceed 40 °C
cles, each lasting about nine
months are character ized by moderate temperatu res. Frost seldom
whereas winter
occurs.
half (which
The geology of the area is not particularly complicated. The western
west of a line extendi ng from Crocodil e Bridge through
lies more or less to the
Satara, Letaba and Shingwe dz1) is compose d largely of granite and is
Tshokwane,
ion and they are
undulating. The fairly level eastern plains have a basalt foundat
Mountain, which forms the
bordered on the eastern side by the rhyolitic Lebombo
ts which, with the ex-
border with Mozambique. A narrow belt of Karoo sedimen
places as layers of sandstone
ception of the extreme northern part, surfaces only in
bodies. In the Punda Maria area this
reefs, divides the extensive granite and basalt
in the form of reefs. To the west there are the
formation occurs over a vast area
System, with intrusions of the
extensive sandstone reefs of the Dominion Reef
of Pafuri, and against the Mo-
Waterberg and Loskop Systems. Immediately south
known as Nwambiya that has very
zambican border, lies a relatively level area
of the Kruger Park where the soils were formed
deep, fine red sand. Unlike the rest
the wind. Dolerite intrusions are
locally, this sand was apparently carried there by
are those in the granitic area,
found throughout the park, but the most important
between Orpen and Satara, between
particularly in the vicinity of Pretoriuskop,
of the Letaba River.
Letaba and Phalaborwa and north
the variety of soil types which orig-
Influenced by the various geological systems, ni-
ions, etc., a mosaic of plant commu
inated from them, veld fires, climatic condit
Although a variety of ecological ele-
ties (as shown on the map) came into being.
situation in the park proves that the
ments were involved in this process, the
undoubtedly played the most important
parent-rock and the subsequent soil types
art. Maria, Nwambiya
sandveld regions of Punda
4 From a floristic point of view, the
far the most important and interesting
and the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area are by
because of the rich variety of species involved.

13
 EXPLANATORY DRAWINGS
LEAVES
A. GENERAL CONSTRUCTION
SS Leaf-blade
GS tea Secondary veins
Midrib
Leaf-axil Tertiary veins
Base of petiole Petiole
Node Stipules

B. TYPES OF LEAF
Fan-shaped

Compound
Paripinnate Imparipinnate
Leaflets in pairs Leaflets not in pairs Leaflets in pairs Leaflets not in pairs

Bipinnate

C. LEAF SHAPES
Leaf Margins

Marginally entire Serrated Dentate Scalloped SinGare

 General

Oval Cordate Lanceolate Oblong Spatulate Ovate

Obovate Orbicular Asymmetrically lanceolate Lobate

D. ARRANGEMENT OF LEAVES

Spirally Decussate Opposite Verticillate

Alternate

COMPOSITION OF A FLOWER

Anther
Filament }Stamen

Petal
Stigma
Style Pistil
Ovary
Sepal

Pedicel
16
 VEGETATION MAP

LEGEND
A, — Red bushwillow veld (granite
undulations)
A> — Thorny thickets (brackish flats of granitic
origin)
B — Red bushwillow/mopani veld (granite
undulations)
C; — Shrub mopani veld (basalt plains)
C, — Tree mopani veld (sandstone plains and
alluvial soils)
C; — Mixed mopani veld (basalt ridges)
D, — Knobthorn/marula veld (basalt plains and
Dolerite intrusions)
D> — Leadwood/marula/albizia veld (basalt
plains)
E — Terminalia/sicklebush veld (granite
undulations)
F, — Mixed red bushwillow veld and/or mopani
veld (rhyolite ridges)
F) — Lebombo ironwood forests (rhyolite
ridges)
G — Punda Maria sandveld (sandstone ridges)
H, — Nwambiya sandveld (sandy flats)
H, — Pumbe sandveld (sandy flats)
I — Mixed montane vegetation (granite
mountains)
J — Delagoa thorn thickets (brackish flats of
granitic origin)
K — Karoo sandveld (Karoo sediments)
L — Silver cluster-leaf/corkwood/knobthorn
veld (basalt undulations)
M - Riverine forest (alluvial soils)

17
ih
PART |
22 Phoenix reclinata Wild date palm

Smallish (up to 6 m), evergreen palm tree with an unbranched

cylindrical stem, bearing in succession the bases of shed leaves,
drooping (dead) leaves as well as pendulous, spreading and upright
leaves forming the crown; almost always occurs in dense stands.
Distribution: Throughout the park on the banks and in the beds of
the rivers and larger spruits; more abundant south of the Olifants
River. Leaves: Borne close together at the top of the stem; large (up
to 2,5 mx 80 cm), pinnately compound with up to 100 leaflets;
leaflets oblong, dark green, smooth, glossy, glabrous, conduplicate
at the bases, marginally entire; basal leaflets yellow to yellow-
green, very hard, thin, spiny. Flowers: Inflorescences borne in axils
of young leaves near the apex of the stem — male and female on
separate plants; male florets caducous, pale dirty-yellow with waxy,
fleshy ‘petals’; female florets small, globose, yellowy-green, glossy,
persistent; borne September to November. Fruits: Borne in large,
pendent clusters; small, ovoid (2,3 x 1,4 cm); exocarp thin, hard;
fruit pulp fairly fleshy; one-seeded; yellow when young and brown
at maturity (from February onwards). General: Timber light, very
fibrous, pale brown, useless; fruits edible and decidedly palatable -—
eaten by primates and birds; alcoholic beverage brewed from the
sap; fibres from the leaves are used for manufacture of mats, hats,
etc.; foliage and stems utilized by elephants; grows particularly
slowiy; prefers damp situations; sensitive to severe frost.

20
23 Hyphaene natalensis Lala palm

Medium-large (up to 15 m), evergreen palm tree with unbranched,

cylindrical, fairly straight stem; crown relatively small; dead leaves
pendent. Distribution: Mainly on basaltic soils on the eastern side of
the Kruger Park in low-lying areas; not in or very near to water;
abundant in the area north of the Letaba River; beautiful specimens
to be seen in Letaba and Shingwedzi rest camps. Leaves: Large (up
to 1.3 min diameter); fan-shaped; short, black hook thorns occur
on the lateral edges ofthe petiole. Flowers: Borne in large
inflorescences in the leaf axils; male florets small, yellow-green,
packed close together in longitudinal — sometimes spiral — rows;
female florets inconspicuous, glossy, globose knobs arranged in
rows: borne November/December. Fruits: Borne in pendent
clusters; large (6 cm in diameter), roughly ovoid drupes; dark
to
brown, shiny and very hard when ripe; not edible; fruits are said
reach maturity two years after flowering. General: Sap collected
leaves
from stems is used to brew an alcoholic beverage; fibres from
white
are used for manufacture of mats, hats and rope; from the
wood
seeds, known as vegetable ivory, ornaments are carved;
light, useless; very slow growing, sensitive to frost;
spongy, brown,
fairly water loving.

21
28 Aloe bainesii Tree aloe

Large (18 m), evergreen tree with a single, mostly low-branching

stem; branches bare; crown fairly wide spreading, sparse, and
roundish; old stems fairly smooth; bark grey, persistent; only true
tree Aloe. Distribution: Limited to two ravines in the Malelane
mountains fairly near to (north of) the Crocodile River. Leaves:
Borne close together at the terminals of the branches; long (90 cm)
and narrow (9 cm), dark green, dull, arching over and downwards;
thorns (on the leaf margins) white, brown-tipped. Flowers:
Inflorescences inconspicuous, candelabrum-shaped; usually consist
of not more than three cylindrical spikes of up to 30 x 10 cm; flowers
densely packed, pink with green tips; produced June/July. Fruits:
Ovoid, glossy green, longitudinally segmented; brown when ripe
(spring). General: Wood soft, fibrous, useless; grows fairly fast
(from seeds as well as cuttings); sensitive to low temperatures;
branches frequently broken by wind; often infested with scale
insects and mites.

22
39 Celtis africana White stinkwood

Medium-large (up to 10 m), deciduous, mostly single-stemmed tree

with a fairly dense, spreading crown and fairly smooth, pale grey
stem; bark slightly rough, does not crack or peel off. Distribution:
In the Kruger Park only on the koppies and ridges in the
Pretoriuskop area — especially Manung hill. Leaves: Simple, borne
alternately; medium-large (9 x 5 cm), nearly cordate, softly hairy,
*
when young, slightly rough when old; three large veins originate*
from the base; margins serrate in upper two-thirds of the leaves
only. Flowers: Small, yellowish; male and female florets on the
(6 mm
same plant; borne September/October. Fruits: Small
diameter), globose, mostly solitary; stalks long; glabrous or
utilized
minutely pubescent; yellow when ripe (January/February);
General: Wood without heartwood, off-white to buff-
by birds.
to
brown; air-dry 750 kg/m’, fairly hard, tough, somewhat difficult
of household articles; grows fast; cold
work: used for manufacture
resistant; prefers well-drained soil and fairly wet conditions.

23
42 Trema orientalis Pigeonwood
Medium-large (up to 15 m), deciduous, single-stemmed tree with a
dense, spreading crown and a smooth, pale grey stem; bark does
not peel off. Distribution: Rare and limited to the southern part of
the Kruger Park, mainly on riverbanks but also in dongas and on
forested hillsides — especially in the Pretoriuskop region. Leaves:
Borne alternately; resemble leaves of white stinkwood but mostly
larger (up to 16 x 7 cm); margins serrate throughout; three large
veins originate from the base. Flowers: Small, unisexual (borne on
the same plant), greenish-white; borne in dense cymes; produced
November/December. Fruits: Small (4 mm diameter), globose or
slightly ovoid, glossy, hairless; borne in small clusters on short
stalks; black when ripe (January/February); utilized by animals.
General: Wood undifferentiated, off-white, fairly soft, light (air-dry
460 kg/m’), flexible, works easily; used for manufacture of
household articles; very fast growing; sensitive to frost; prefers
deep, well-drained, slightly acid soil and moist conditions; infusions
of the bark and leaves are used for treatment of bronchitis and
internal parasites.

24
47 Ficus sansibarica Knobbly fig
Fairly large (up to 20 m), semi-deciduous to deciduous, strangling
fig tree (see F. stuhlmannii) with a short, deeply grooved or
compound, smooth stem and a wide-spreading, dense crown; stems
grey with scattered, short, rough, curved, prostrate, fruit-bearing
twigs; bark does not peel off; contains milky latex. Distribution:
Mainly in the sandy area around Punda Maria; one tree next to the
Mwatimhiri road (S21) south of the Sabie River; a few trees have
been planted in Olifants camp. Leaves: Arranged spirally around
twigs; simple, oblong-elliptic, up to 10 x 5 cm, green and glossy,
thin, marginally entire, hairless; petioles long (7 cm); stipules fairly
persistent and pale brown. Flowers: Small, unisexual, borne on the
inner walls of the figs. Fruits: Large (4 cm in diameter), subglobose,
hairless, dark purple with yellow-green dots when ripe (usually
February but full-grown fruits have also been found in August and
October); borne on the short fruiting twigs on stems and branches;
edible but unpleasant. General: Wood light (air-dry 590 kg/m’) and
soft, without heartwood, pale brown, probably not used at all; fruits
are eaten by animals and birds; leaves utilized by elephants; fairly
fast growing; grown from seed and cuttings; not cold resistant.

25
48 Ficus thonningii Common wild fig
(includes F. petersii)
Medium-large (+ 15 m), semi-deciduous, strangling fig (see F.
stuhlmannii) with a spreading, dense crown and a long, bare,
normal or sometimes fluted or dented, grey and fairly smooth stem;
old bark sometimes breaks up into small blocks; contains latex.
Distribution: Mainly in the Pretoriuskop area on deep, sandy soil
but also on dolerite koppies and basalt soils in the Lower
Sabie/Crocodile bridge’area as well as the rhyolitic Lebombo.
Leaves: Arranged spirally around the twigs; simple, hairless, grey-
green to dark green, slightly glossy, marginally entire, oblanceolate,
up to 9x 3cm but mostly smaller, thin and brittle; petioles
exceptionally long (up to 4 cm); stipules hairy, paper thin,
caducous. Flowers: Like all other figs, borne inside the fruits.
Fruits: Small (1 cm in diameter), sessile, globose, finely hairy,
green with white spots when immature and red when ripe (probably
any time of the year); borne solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils;
edible and very palatable. General: Wood light (air-dry 490 kg/m’),
pale brown, relatively useless, fast growing and can be propagated
from seeds and cuttings — even branches; fairly cold and drought
resistant; fruits utilized by a variety of animal species.

26
50 Ficus sur Broom cluster fig
(= F. capensis)

Large (20 m), semi-deciduous to evergreen tree with a wide-

spreading crown and usually low branching, dented, coarse, pale
grey stem; bark does not peel off; contains latex. Distribution: Rare
and confined to a few rivulets/spruits with relatively permanent
water north-west of Punda Maria and in the Pretoriuskop area;
planted at Numbi and Pretoriuskop. Leaves: Arranged spirally
around the twigs; simple, ovate to elliptic, hairless, soft, about 10 x
5,5 cm; margins obtrusive and widely, irregularly dentate; young
leaves dark reddish-brown and glossy; stipules caducous. Flowers:
Borne inside the figs; small, unisexual. Fruits: Large (up to 3 cm in
diameter), globose-ovoid, hairless, orange to red with unobtrusive
flecks when ripe (roughly throughout the year); borne in large
on the
clusters on long pedicels on the stems and branches and often
roots near the base of the stem as well; edible and palatable; small
trees
figs usually appear in September and ripen in December but
with mature figs have been found nearly throughout the year.
General: Wood light (air-dry 450 kg/m*), without heartwood,
animals and
greyish-white, useless, fruits eaten by a variety of wild
fast growing, water loving; not cold resistant, only suitable
birds;
for large gardens.

27
55 Ficus ingens Red-leaved rock fig
Mostly smallish but sometimes very large (up to 25 m), deciduous
fig tree with a wide-spreading, dense crown and a short, dented,
pale grey stem; sometimes a small, sparse, trailing tree with
crooked branches spreading over the rocks; bark peels off in very
small, thin flakes; contains latex. Distribution: Throughout the park
on the koppies and mountains. Leaves: Borne spirally on the twigs;
simple, oblong-ovate, fairly large (sometimes up to 19 x 10 cm but
mostly + 8 x 4cm), thin but very hard, dark green, marginally
entire, hairless; veins yellowy-green; new leaves exceptionally shiny
and reddish-brown. Flowers: Similar to other fig species. Fruits:
Small (1 cm in diameter), subglobose, hairless to slightly pubescent;
initially green with white spots, red when ripe (apparently any time
of the year); borne solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils near the twig
terminals; edible but unpalatable; mature fruits have been found
from July to February. General: Wood light (air-dry 570 kg/m’), off-
white, tough, useless; grows fairly fast from seeds and cuttings,
fairly cold resistant, drought resistant; fruits eaten by animals;
leaves utilized by elephants; root-system superficial.

28
5 / Ficus natalensis Natal fig

Large (20 m — but locally up to 12 m), evergreen tree with a dense,

spreading, roundish crown; stem round to longitudinally grooved,
short, thick; often with masses of aerial roots; strangling fig — thus
hemi-epiphytic; bark fairly smooth, buff-brown to grey, does not
peel off; contains latex. Distribution: Only along the Luvuvhu River
north-west of Punda Maria. Leaves: Arranged spirally around and
close together at twig terminals; simple, obovate to oblanceolate,
up to 8,5 x 3,5cm, hard, brittle, hairless, dark green, glossy and
marginally entire; stipules small (4 mm long) and caducous.
Flowers: Small, inside the fig. Fruits: Borne in pairs in the leaf axils
(sometimes solitary); subglobose, up to 1,4x 1,2 cm, caulescent
(rarely up to 6 mm), hairless, glossy, smooth; initially light green
with white speckles and red when ripe; apparently produces fruit
more than once a year (summer months). General: Wood fairly
light (air-dry 400 kg/m’); off-white to grey with a brownish tinge;
without heartwood; mats, cordage and even clothes are
and roots
manufactured from the fibrous bark; infusions of the bark
used for treatment of influenza, snake-bite and colic; fruits edible
from
but unpalatable; exceptional shade tree which can be grown
seeds and cuttings; grows fast; probably not cold resistant.

29
60 Ficus salicifolia Wonderboom fig
(= F. pretoriae)
Usually a medium-large (up to 10 m), evergreen wild fig tree with
fairly long, bare, grey-brown stems and a dense, spreading crown;
bark does not peel off; contains latex. Distribution: Very rare in the
Kruger Park and only a few trees have thus far been found in the
Malelane mountains as well as along the Luvuvhu River near
Pafuri; planted in nearly all rest camps. Leaves: Ovate-oval, simple,
medium-large (usually 7 x 3 cm), dark green, hard, marginally
entire, conduplicate upwards, hairless; arranged spirally around the
twigs. Flowers: Like in other fig species. Fruits: Small (6 mm in
diameter), globose, pale red with white flecks when ripe (summer);
borne solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils near twig terminals; edible
but not very palatable. General: Fast growing; propagated from
seeds as well as cuttings; not cold resistant; fruits utilized by
animals; wood without heartwood, pale brown; the best known
specimen is the Wonder Tree near Pretoria which is about 20 m tall
and consists of an entire complex of trees, covering about half a
hectare at present, which sprouted from branches of the mother
tree lying on the ground.

30
62 Ficus tettensis Small-leaved rock fig
(= F. smutsit)

Smallish (up to 10 m), deciduous rock wild fig tree with a sparse,
spreading crown and a yellow, short, crooked, dented stem; bark
peels off in small blocks; twigs distinctly puberulous; contains latex.
Distribution: On koppies and mountains (rocks) north of the
Olifants River; rare; can be seen along the Phalaborwa-Letaba road
(H9) as well as at Pafuri (S64) —i.e. the Nyala loop. Leaves:
Arranged spirally around the twigs; simple, broadly ovate — cordate
to nearly round, up to 9 x 7 cm, sometimes broader than long, pale
green, marginally entire, fairly thick and conspicuously hairy;
stipules pale brown, slightly tomentose, caducous. Flowers: Similar
to other fig species. Fruits: Small (1 cm in diameter), globose,
sessile, initially tomentose and later tuberculate and rough; red
when ripe (January but also August to November); edible but
rather unpalatable; borne solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils.
General: Wood light (air-dry 670 kg/m’), off-white, apparently
useless; slow growing under natural conditions — i.e. on rocks;
sensitive to cold conditions; grows from seeds and cuttings; fruits
eaten by wild animals.

31
63 Ficus abutilifolia Large-leaved rock fig
(= F. soldanella)
Small (up to 6 m), deciduous rock wild fig tree with a short,
crooked, low-branching, yellow-grey to yellow-white trunk and a
sparse crown; bark peels off in paper-thin flakes or thin, irregular
blocks; contains latex. Distribution: Throughout the Kruger Park
on koppies and mountains (rocks) but nowhere abundant. Leaves:
Arranged spirally around the twigs; largest of the local fig species
(up to 15 cm long and 20 cm broad), simple, cordate, hairless,
marginally entire, fairly thick, green; veins red-brown in young
leaves and later pale yellow; stipules red-brown and caducous.
Flowers: Inside the figs; small, unisexual. Fruits: Fairly large (2,5
cm in diameter), subglobose, sessile, tomentose, initially pale green
with white spots and, when ripe, pale to dark red; fruits apparently
borne throughout the year; borne solitary or in pairs (sometimes
four) in the leaf axils; edible and very palatable. General: Wood
light (air-dry 670 kg/m’), pale brown, apparently useless; grows
slowly under natural conditions; fairly cold resistant; propagated by
means of seeds or cuttings; fruits eaten by wild animals.

32
 64 Ficus glumosa Mountain rock fig
(= F. sonderi)

Medium-large (up to 12 m), deciduous to semi-deciduous rock wild

fig tree with a short, distorted, fluted, yellowy-green to yellowy-
grey stem and a wide-spreading, fairly dense crown; new twigs
= exceptionally pubescent; bark peels off in very small flakes;

- contains latex. Distribution: Fairly abundant on koppies and

mountains south of the Sabie River as well as the mountains at
Punda Maria/Pafuri; rare in between; usually on top of boulders;
one planted by myself at the information complex at Skukuza about
1964. Leaves: Arranged spirally around the twigs; simple, fairly
large (up to 10 x 8 cm and sometimes much bigger on young plants),
Ge dark green, nearly round,
es marginally entire, fairly hard and thick,
» covered by long hairs especial ly when young; stipules dark brown to
species.
reddish, thin, papery, long-lasting. Flowers: As in other fig
or less
Fruits: Relatively small (up to 1 cm in diameter), more
spots
~ ovoid, covered by silvery-grey hairs; pale green with white
or in pairs in the leaf axils,
when young, red when ripe; solitary
tered from
palatable but not very tasty, small figs have been encoun
: Wood
May to November and mature fruits in January. General
apparently
fairly light (air-dry 640 kg/m’), pale brown, soft, tough,
slow growin g under natural conditi ons but fast if
ee
Rtuseless; fairly
ons; figs eaten by a
planted in good soil; sensitive to cold conditi
; young twigs excepti onally thick.
: variety of wild animals

33
65 Ficus stuhlmannii Lowveld fig
Medium-large (up to 12 m), deciduous to semi-deciduous,
strangling wild fig tree with a long, deeply fluted, often compound,
fairly smooth, grey stem and a dense, spreading crown; young twigs
pale brown and hairy; bark does not peel off; contains latex.
Distribution: Throughout the Kruger Park but very rare; germinates
in the forks formed by branches of other (host) trees which are in
due course encircled and strangled by the roots growing down to the
ground — therefore seldom encountered as independent trees.
Leaves: Arranged spirally around twigs; simple, fairly large (up to
14x 7 cm but usually much smaller), obovate to oblong, marginally
entire, dark green, finely hairy, fairly thick and hard; stipules very
short, caducous. Flowers: As in other fig species. Fruits: Relatively
large (up to 2 cm long), more or less ovoid, covered by silvery-grey
hairs, initially pale green with pale yellow specks and reddish-green
with pale red specks when ripe; edible but not very tasty; ripen
between February and October. General: Wood light (air-dry
600 kg/m’), off-white, useless; fairly fast growing, sensitive to cold;
propagated by means of seeds as well as cuttings; fruits eaten by a
large variety of wild animals.

34
66 Ficus sycomorus subsp. sycomorus Sycamore fig
(= F. sycomorus)
Large (up to 20 m), nearly evergreen to semi-deciduous (seldom
leafless) wild fig tree with a very thick (up to 20 m circumference),
relatively short, normal to deeply fluted, yellowy-grey stem and
long, bare branches; crown dense and very wide spreading; bark
peels off in paper-thin shreds; contains latex. Distribution:
Everywhere in the park along rivers and rivulets with permanent
water; in the Pretoriuskop area, which encounters the highest
rainfall in the Park, also on the deep, sandy soils on the ridges.
Leaves: Borne spirally around the twigs; simple, fairly large (8x5
cm but also bigger), oval to ovate/orbicular, pale green, thin, hard,
softly hairy in the young stage, later roughly hairy; margins
irregularly and inconspicuously crenate. Flowers: As in other fig
species. Fruits: Relatively large (up to 3 cm in diameter), nearly
globose, buff-green when young and yellow or pale red to red when
mature; borne on long caudicles; in most cases the figs are
conspicuously hairy, but sometimes hairless and glossy;
encountered almost throughout the year; borne in dense clusters on
the thick branches. General: Wood without heartwood, pale brown,
light (air-dry 500 kg/m’), used to manufacture drums; fast growing,
cold sensitive, water loving; grows from seeds and cuttings, fruits
utilized by animals; infusions of the bark and leaves used to treat
chest complaints, glandular indispositions, inflammation and
diarrhoea.

35
al Urera tenax Mountain nettle

Small (up to 7 m), deciduous tree with a short, low-branching stem

and a spreading, very sparse crown; stems look succulent-like, are
grey with dark knobs and rough striations and fairly smooth; bark
does not peel off. Distribution: On the koppies and mountain
ranges in the south (Pretoriuskop/Malelane), the southern part of
the Lebombo and the hills north of Punda Maria. Leaves: Arranged
alternately on the twigs; simple, pale green, cordate, fairly large
(9x 7cm), soft, thin, uneven; leaf margins deeply undulating; long,
stinging hairs mostly on under sides. Flowers: Female florets very
small, pale reddish-brown with purple tinge; male florets also small,
reddish-brown in the bud but dominated by the snow-white anthers
when fully open; appear in August/September just before the
leaves. Fruits: Very small, flat, 1,5 mm long, thin, pellicular;
initially purple and later pale brown; ripen in October/November.
General: Wood white, very light (air-dry 220 kg/m’), soft, brittle,
useless, bark fibres used to plait household articles; leaves not
utilized by game; when the stinging hairs come into contact with the
human skin, they cause a rather severe, burning pain; grown from
seed as well as cuttings; rather fast growing.

36
75 Faurea saligna Transvaal beech

Smallish (up to 8 m), deciduous (leaves turn bright red), slender

tree with a black or dark grey, very rough, short stem and mostly
poorly spreading crown; young twigs are reddish; old bark is deeply
grooved longitudinally. Distribution: Limited to the sandy, granitic
ridges and mountains in the Pretoriuskop/Stolznek/Malelane area.
Leaves: Arranged spirally around the twigs; simple, pendent, long
(up to 16 cm) and narrow (up to 3 cm), lanceolate, thick, leathery,
smooth and glossy, marginally entire, buff-green; petioles and
young leaves are red. Flowers: Small but relatively long with
recurving petals; borne in pendent spikes of up to 15 cm long and
4cm in diameter, coloured silvery grey with a red-brown tinge;
appear midsummer; contain large quantities of nectar. Fruits:
Small, brown, ovoid, hairy nuts. General: Wood fairly heavy (air-
dry 770 to 900 kg/m’), used in manufacturing of furniture and for
building purposes; fairly slow growing; resistant to moderately cold
to
conditions; only grows from seed; heartwood attractively pale
dark brown and sapwood somewhat lighter in colour, an excellent
firewood.

37
76 Faurea speciosa Broad-leaved beech
Small (6 m), deciduous (leaves turn red) tree with a fairly sparse,
formless crown and a short stem; young branchlets are pale grey to
brown and hairy; bark very rough and exceptionally deeply
longitudinally grooved, pale grey (shade) to black (sun) and does
not peel off. Distribution: Very rare in the Kruger Park and limited
to the area north of Numbi Gate. Leaves: Arranged spirally around
the twigs at the terminals; simple, marginally entire, up to 13x 6
cm, oblong to elliptic, brittle, thick, glossy dark green; young leaves
hairy and old ones only partially on under sides. Flowers: Very
small, densely packed into long (up to 25 cm), cylindrical spikes
covered by silvery hairs and with pale red perianths; contain great
quantities of nectar; spikes terminal on the twigs; appear late
summer and autumn. Fruits: Small, round, brown nuts; ripen in
winter. General: Wood resembles that of F. saligna, apparently not
used apart from firewood; infusions of the bark used to treat
stomach ailments; propagated by means of seed only; not drought
resistant but can endure low temperatures; grows slowly.

38
 1 01 Olax dissitiflora Small sourplum
Small, sparse, deciduous (leaves turn dark yellow) tree with a fairly
long, bare stem, spreading, roundish crown and lax, pendent
branchlets; young twigs are slightly zigzag; old bark grey to grey-
brown, fairly smooth and does not peel off. Distribution: Grows
| throughout the park but is very scarce and almost entirely confined
to stony areas. Leaves: Arranged spirally around the twigs at the
terminals; simple, green with a yellowish tinge, glossy, small (about
5x 2cm), lanceolate, marginally entire, partially conduplicate,
' firm, brittle, smooth and hairless. Flowers: Small (5 mm in
' diameter), solitary in leaf axils, yellow, inconspicuous; appear in
September/October. Fruits: Small (8 mm in diameter), drop-
_ shaped, hairless, drupaceous with a clearly discernible ring around
| the apex; red when ripe; almost enveloped by the accrescent calyx;
- ripen in January/February. General: Wood pale to yellow-brown,
very hard, heavy (air-dry 900 kg/m’), finely textured; uses
to the
- unknown; leaves used as purgative; elephants very partial
| species; grows slowly; not cold resistan t.

39
1 03 Ximenia caffra var. caffra Sourplum
Small (5 m), deciduous tree with a sparse, formless crown consisting
of only a few branches; stem short, rough, black; hairy thorns
sometimes present; bark breaks up into narrow, high ridges which
join up and split back and forth. Distribution: Everywhere in the
park with the exception of the shrub-mopane areas; nowhere
abundant. Leaves: Arranged alternately on young branchlets and in
dense groups on short, scabrid protruberances; simple, up to 8 x 4
cm (mostly smaller), oblong-elliptic, thick, deeply conduplicate,
marginally entire, dark green, hairless when mature. Flowers:
Small, green, tubiform with white hairs in the tube; borne solitary
or in small groups in leaf axils; appear July to October. Fruits:
Oval, up to 4x 2,5 cm, smooth, hairless, glossy, initially green and
speckled, bright red with white spots when ripe (November to
February), edible but sour. General: Wood hard and heavy (air-dry
830 kg/m’), heartwood red-brown and sapwood yellowish-white,
odorous, not insect resistant; propagated only by means of seed;
grows slowly; not cold resistant; fruits have a high vitamin C
content; seeds contain about 65% oil; jelly and jam prepared from
the fruits; infusions of the bark and leaves are used to treat
diarrhoea, inflammation of the eyes, venereal disease, bleeding and
internal parasites; game utilize the leaves sporadically.

40
1 04 Portulacaria afra Porkbush

Small (5 m), evergreen tree with a succulent-like, glossy, red-brown

stem, a fairly dense crown and long, pendent branches, young twigs
in opposite pairs; bark does not peel off. Distribution: Only in the
mountainous areas in the park —i.e. Malelane, Lebombo south of
the Olifants River, and Punda Maria; planted extensively as hedges
in rest camps. Leaves: In opposite pairs; simple, small (1,5 cm),
suborbicular, thick, fleshy, smooth, hairless and marginally entire.
Flowers: Small, star-shaped, pink; borne in terminal racemes,
appear in October/November; contain large quantities of nectar.
Fruits: Small (5 mm long), each with three thin, papery, transparent
wings; ripen in midsummer. General: Wood spongy and useless;
growth rate fairly slow; grows from seeds or cuttings; drought and
cold resistant; leaves used as fodder and utilized by a variety of
game species such as elephant; nutritional value low and water
content very high (up to 80%); greatest use is as a hedge plant.

41
1 05 Annona senegalensis Wild custard-apple
Small (5 m), deciduous tree with a short, dark grey, mostly smooth
stem and a sparse, formless crown; new branchlets hairy; bark
breaks up in small, angular sections. Distribution: Only in the deep,
sandy soils around Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria. Leaves: Fairly
large (10x 6 cm), simple, elliptic to suborbicular, marginally entire,
medium-thick, slightly spoon-shaped, buff-grey above and pale
brown (pubescent) underneath; young leaves covered by brown
hairs; arranged alternately on the twigs. Flowers: Small,
characterized by three thick, waxy, cream-coloured, caducous
perianth leaves; borne in November. Fruits: Solitary, about 5 x3
cm, taper to the apex, tuberculate, initially dark green with white
spots, and when ripe (late summer) yellow to orange; contains
numerous pale brown seeds; fruits edible and palatable. General:
Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 750 kg/m*), without heartwood, pale
brown, not used to a large extent; fast growing; sensitive to cold;
prefers well-drained soil; infusions of the leaves and bark used to
treat a variety of ailments; only witchdoctors are allowed to use the
wood as firewood; leaves contain a glucocide (anonacein),
cyanogenetic gum and tannin; fruits eaten by baboons and
monkeys; leaves utilized by a variety of browsers.

42
 1 06 Hexalobus monopetalus Shakama plum
Smallish (up to 9 m), deciduous tree with a sparse, spreading crown
and a short, bent, low-branching, brown to black stem; thin
branchlets covered by pale brown hairs; bark subdivides into
longitudinal ridges and is soft, brittle and fibrous. Distribution:
Mainly north of the Olifants River and confined to rocky areas;
more abundant and larger near Punda Maria. Leaves: Arranged
alternately on the twigs; simple, oval, 7,5 x 2,5 cm, marginally
entire, fairly thin, spoon-shaped, dark brown and hairy in the bud
stage but later pale to dark green above and brown and hairy
underneath. Flowers: Attractive with long, pale yellow, narrow,
creased petals; usually appear in autumn as small, dark brown,
velvety little balls in the leaf axils only opening after the first spring
rains (October). Fruits: Irregularly oblong, sometimes
suborbicular, tuberculate, segmented, about 3 x 1,5 cm, covered by
a pale brown tomentose layer when young but glossy, orange to red
with green striations when ripe (February); edible and quite
| pleasant although slightly sour. General: Wood bright chrome-
, yellow when freshly sawn and golden yellow to brownish when dry,
medium-heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’), fine-textured, not used
; generally; grows slowly; probably not cold resistant; fruits eaten by
animals such as baboons, monkeys and birds.

43
1 1 0 Xylopia odoratissima Savanna bitterwood

Medium-large (12 m), slender, upright, deciduous tree with a long,

bare, grey-brown, grooved stem and relatively few, short branches
which grow almost horizontally from the main stem; young
branchlets brownish, hairy; bark usually smooth with scattered
scabrid patches. Distribution: Confined to the rocky sandveld area
west and northwest of Punda Maria; mostly in dense thickets next to
spruits and against the slopes of the ridges. Leaves: Arranged
alternately on the twigs; fairly small (6 x 2,5 cm), elliptic, simple,
marginally entire, slightly conduplicate; pale green, hairless and
slightly glossy above but dull green and hairy underneath. Flowers:
Slender, dark yellow, solitary and sometimes in pairs in the leaf
axils; appear October/November. Fruits: Oblong-clavate, irregular,
tuberculate — sometimes clearly segmented, green, striated,
smooth, up to 4 cm long; seeds bright orange; borne in clusters;
ripen in January. General: Wood bright yellow, attractive, hard,
tough and medium-heavy (air-dry 830 kg/m’); works easily and
produces a smooth finish; apparently seldom used; extracts of the
aromatic roots used by the Nyamwezi tribe as a cure for barrenness;
probably sensitive to cold; not very decorative.

44
 1 20 Gyrocarpus americanus Propeller tree

Smallish (9 m), deciduous tree with a long, bare, smooth, shiny

stem (when young); bark mostly white on the sunny side; crown
spreading but sparse; bark sometimes peels off in small, buff-grey
blocks. Distribution: Only against the ridges along the Luvuvhu
River and Dzundwini hill southwest of Punda Maria; can be seen
from the road numbered S64 as well as the Dzundwini loop. Leaves:
Packed close together at twig terminals; simple, older ones deeply
trilobate but young leaves not, generally cordate, on average 10 x 10
cm but larger on young trees; lower surface finely hairy — sometimes
on upper side as well; older leaves pendent and young ones erect;
three large veins originate in the leaf base; turn yellow to bright red
in autumn. Flowers: Appear in autumn when the leaves have
changed colour or have fallen; florets very small, yellow, borne in
terminal clusters; some florets female, others bisexual, but the
largest number male. Fruits: Borne in pendent, terminal clusters;
fruits consist of a very hard, ovoid (2 cm long), seed-bearing part
and two long, paper-thin, stiff wings about 7 cm long, at the end;
ripen July/August. General: The wood is white, without heartwood,
» soft, light (air-dry 340 kg/m’), contains a viscid latex which has been
used to manufacture rubber; leaves poorly utilized by game; seeds
germinate easily; grows fairly fast; not cold resistant; recommended
as decorative tree.

45
1 22 Boscia albitrunca Shepherd’s tree
Smallish (6 m), semi-deciduous tree with a twiggy, fairly dense
crown; long stem, smooth and light-coloured to rough and greyish;
young branchlets hairy; bark breaks up into small blocks in places
but does not peel off. Distribution: Throughout the park but rare; in
the southern areas only in rocky situations; abundant in the far
north, especially Pafuri area. Leaves: Arranged spirally around the
twigs; simple, oblong, up to 4x 1 cm; solitary or in small groups on
short lateral shoots; hard, brittle, slightly rough, marginally entire
and finely hairy; apex often emarginate and always acutely
mucronate. Flowers: Small (4 mm in diameter), borne in dense
racemes, occasionally on fairly thick branches; greenish-yellow;
contain large quantities of malodorous nectar; usually appear from
August to October, but sometimes much later depending on the
rainfall. Fruits: Many, small (1,5 cm in diameter), orbicular fruits
are borne; yellow to pale red when ripe; pulp bright red, eaten by
birds; ripen from December onwards. General: Wood without
heartwood, off-white to pale yellow-brown, fairly heavy (air-dry
800 kg/m’), finely grained; used.for manufacturing of household
articles; one of the most valuable fodder trees in the bushveld areas
for game and domestic stock alike; coffee (called ‘witgatkoffie’ in
Afrikaans) as well as porridge prepared from the roots; fruits edible
but not tasty; grows slowly; cold resistant.

46
1 22 . 1 Boscia angustifolia var. corymbosa Rough-leaved
shepherd’s tree
Small (6 m) tree with a bare stem and a sparse, spreading crown;
deciduous — leaves fall in February immediately prior to flowering
period; stems are grooved, light-coloured and smooth to grey and
rough. Distribution: Only in the northern area of the park on the
sandstone ridges between Punda Maria and Pafuri. Leaves: Simple;
borne solitary and spirally on young shoots and in dense groups on
older twigs; up to 6 x 2.cm, oblong to elliptic with a mucro at the
top; rough because of small tubercles, hard, leathery, marginally
entire. Flowers: Small (5 mm in diameter), yellow-green,
malodorous, packed in dense racemes at twig terminals; flowers
February/March. Fruits: Round, yellow when ripe, about | cm in
diameter, slightly rough; exocarp hard; fruit-pulp yellow, sticky;
one or two seeds per fruit; ripen during winter months. General:
Wood yellow to yellow-brown, without heartwood; fairly hard and
heavy (air-dry 850 kg/m’); works easily; no information available on
uses, medicinal value, etc., because of rarity of the species.

47
1 32 Maerua angolensis Bead-bean

Smallish tree (maximum 8 m) with a bare stem and very sparse,

moderately spreading crown; possibly evergreen but a leafless tree
with a large crop of fruit was found in December; bark peels off in
small, powdery flakes; living bark bright green; dead bark grey with
red-brown tinge. Distribution: Very rare in the park but grows on a
variety of soil types throughout the area; usually in rocky situations
or on termitaria. Leaves: Simple, arranged spirally, limited to twig
terminals, smallish (5 x 2,5 cm), roughly oval with an emarginate tip
and a sharp mucro in the indentation; smooth, hairless, marginally
entire; midrib very prominent and nearly white; petioles red-brown
to purplish-brown, thickened at both ends and bent at the leaf
bases. Flowers: Solitary or in racemes in the leaf axils or at the twig
terminals; consist mainly of long, white stamens which turn yellow
when withering; no petals present; borne September/October.
Fruits: Cylindrical, deeply segmented pseudo-pods; brown when
mature with about 20 brown seeds per ‘pod’; ripen January/
February. General: Wood white, fairly heavy (air-dry 830 kg/m’),
without heartwood but with fairly thick, concentric layers of softer
wood conspicuous in cross sections; apparently not used; not
utilized extensively by game; possibly contains a toxic chemical
substance; probably not cold resistant but fairly drought resistant.

48
 1 46 Parinari curatellifolia Mobola plum
Can grow into a large tree (24 m in Zimbabwe) but locally only up
to 11 m; stem usually bare and crown round with pendent
branchlets; foliage almost evergreen, dark green with a brownish
tinge; corky, longitudinally grooved bark dark grey. Distribution:
- Only on the rather sour, well-drained, sandy soils in the vicinities of
Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria. Leaves: Simple, elliptic to oblong,
marginally entire, medium-large (9 x 5 cm), slightly spoon-shaped,
_ hard and leathery; young leaves covered by a rust-coloured
tomentose layer, when mature only on under sides; veins form a
prominent herringbone pattern. Flowers: Borne in large, rust-
brown inflorescences in leaf axils near twig terminals; florets small
and whitish but overall colour determined by rust-brown, hairy
sepals and pedicels; appear October/November. Fruits: Oval, ovate
or round (3 x 1,5 cm); exocarp yellow-brown with grey flecks; fruit
pulp layer fairly thick, exceptionally flavoury and palatable; eaten
fresh: used to brew alcoholic beverage as well as for syrup and
porridge; oil-bearing seeds also eaten; single stone; only ripen in
_ winter or autumn. General: Wood pale brown, without heartwood,
fairly heavy (air-dry 720 kg/m’), difficult to work because of silica
crystals; not durable but used to manufacture pounding blocks and
boats: fruits edible therefore trees seldom felled when clearing new
ground for lands; bark and leaf extracts used for tanning; a remedy
for pneumonia as well as ear and eye ailments; fruits eaten bya
, variety of wild animals but very seldom the leaves; grown from
seeds; grows slowly; not cold resistant.

49
1 48 Albizia adianthifolia Flat-crown

One of the most impressive and beautiful trees in the park; up to 18

m high; long, bare stem and widespreading, flat to umbrella-shaped
crown; deciduous; old bark rough, dark grey to grey-brown and
breaks up into small blocks. Distribution: Tropical species;
abundant in Zimbabwe and along the Mozambique coast; in the
park limited to the area northwest of Punda Maria and only in forest
communities near springs. Leaves: Very large (up to 25 cm long),
bipinnately compound with two to five pairs of pinnae; four to ten
pairs of leaflets per pinna; conspicuous, large, flat gland on petiole
and smaller ones on the rachis at junctions of one or more of the
three upper pairs of pinnae; leaves arranged spirally around the
branchlets. Flowers: Inflorescences greenish-white, inconspicuous,
at twig terminals; florets in dense heads with larger ones (male) in
the centre; petals white; stamens green and adnate, forming long,
slender tubes; borne September to November after emergence of
the new leaves. Fruits: Flat, oblong, pergamentaceous pods; pale
brown, slightly swollen over the seeds; up to 15 x 2,5 cm; reach
maturity in autumn or even in winter. General: Sapwood white and
heartwood pale brown; fairly soft and light (air-dry 600 kg/m’); not
durable; easy to work and polish; suitable for general purposes,
particularly parquet floors; utilization by game limited to the
elephant; easily grown from seed and grows very fast; probably
sensitive to cold conditions.

50
1 49 Albizia amara subsp. sericocephala Bitter false-thorn

Large (up to 15 m), deciduous tree with a wide-spreading,

sometimes round, but sparse crown and a long, bare, usually
crooked stem: old bark longitudinally grooved and dark grey.
Distribution: Widely spread in Africa, but in the park very scarce
and limited to the sandveld of Punda Maria; abundant just outside
Punda gate in Venda. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with up to 36
pairs of pinnae; large (up to 28 cm long); bright to yellow-green
when young and later pale blue-green; borne at twig terminals;
leaflets very small (4 x 1 mm); one large gland on the petiole and
small glands on the rachis at the junctions of the upper one to seven
pairs of pinnae. Flowers: Appear in masses with the leaves at the
twig terminals; inflorescences consist of a large number of white
florets; borne September/October. Fruits: Flat pods, pale brown,
thin, pergamentaceous, long (30 cm), narrow (3,5 cm); up to 12
seeds; pods straight, sometimes slightly sinuate at the seeds; ripen
April/May. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 780 kg/m’),
hard, pale brown, without heartwood, produces a smooth finish;
uses unknown: bark, leaves and roots used medicinally — amongst
other things to treat cough, malaria, stomach ailments and leprosy;
not utilized extensively by game; beautiful tree for the warmer areas
of the country.
1 5O Albizia anthelmintica Worm-bark false-thorn

Smallish (10 m), deciduous, contorted, sparse, untidy, twiggy tree

with a formless crown and crooked stem(s); bark slightly rough and
grey. Distribution: Widely spread in Africa; throughout the park,
although limited to low-lying brackish areas next to some rivers and
spruits; largest specimens along the Sabie River. Leaves: Relatively
small (up to 7 cm long); bipinnately compound with only four pairs
of pinnae and a few, medium-large leaflets per pinna; mostly one
gland only, i.e. on the petiole, sometimes one or two on the rachis.
Flowers: Exceptionally conspicuous; borne on leafless trees in early
spring, occasionally late winter; up to 5 cm diameter, snow-white;
long, white stamens most important component. Fruits: Pale
biscuit-coloured pods; borne in clusters; relatively small (10 x 1,5
cm), thin, smooth, mostly sinuate along the edges; dehisce while
still on the trees; ripen November/December. General: Wood
generally red-brown, or white sapwood and small heartwood; fairly
heavy (air-dry about 780 kg/m’); hard, difficult to saw; finely
textured; medicinally important as implicated by the species name,
especially in combating tapeworm and hookworm; infusions of the
bark or powdered bark are used; leaves utilized especially by
impala; grows very slowly, probably sensitive to extreme cold
conditions.

52
1 52 Albizia brevifolia Mountain false-thorn

Smallish (9 m), slender, deciduous tree with very sparse, formless

crown and long, lax, bare branches: tends to be multi-stemmed; old
stems grey; old bark rough and breaks up sporadically; peels off in
thin blocks or strips. Distribution: Mainly limited to rocky situations
in basalt, sandstone and rhyolite north of Olifants River but a dense
stand occurs on Nwamuriwa hill near Orpen dam; fairly abundant in
Pafuri area. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with seven to nine pairs
of pinnae; up to 9 cm long; leaflets very small (4x 1 mm); one gland
on petiole and one at junction of last pair of pinnae on rachis.
Flowers: Inflorescences appear together with new leaves
(October/November); florets small, white and with long, thin
stamens most important component. Fruits: Pendent pods solitary
or in pairs; thin, pergamentaceous, up to 15 x3 cm, pale brown,
edges fairly straight; mostly twisted and dehisce after being shed;
ripen in March/April. General: Wood off-white, without
by
heartwood, heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), and hard; damaged
borers; used for pick and axe handles; bark used in hut
construction; elephants and giraffe utilize the leaves; seeds
germinate easily; grows slowly; not cold resistant.

53
1 DG Albizia petersiana subsp. evansii Many-stemmed
false-thorn

Medium-large (11 m), deciduous, multi-stemmed tree with a

V-shaped framework; old stems grey with a yellow tinge; bark splits
longitudinally into irregular strips and peels off in thin, flat strips.
Distribution: Only occurs in Natal, Mozambique, Swaziland and
Transvaal; in the park very abundant along the Karoo sediments
running in a north/south line from Crocodile bridge to Pafuri, but
mainly limited to the area south of Satara/Orpen. Leaves: Small
(6 cm long), bipinnately compound with three pairs of pinnae and
two to six pairs of leaflets per pinna; leaflets dark red when young,
later dark green; undersides of leaflets as well as petiole and rachis
covered with fine hairs; one gland on petiole and one each at
junctions of last two pinna pairs on the rachis. Flowers:
Conspicuously hairy in bud stage; borne in small heads on very thin,
hairy peduncles at the terminals of short, lateral twigs; florets small;
petals small and white; stamens adnate to form a blood-red tube:
flowers when leaves have reached maturity (December). Fruits:
Pods solitary or in groups; relatively small (12 x 1,6 cm), oblong,
thin, fairly hard, pale to dark brown, hairless: edges straight; six or
seven seeds per pod; reach maturity in late summer/autumn.
General: Wood fairly hard and heavy (air-dry 830 kg/m’); consists of
pale brown sapwood and a yellow to dark brown central area which
is probably a result of insect activities lower down in the stem:
produces a smooth finish; leaves eaten by browsing game species
and young pods especially by giraffe; germinates easily but grows
slowly.

54
1 54 Albizia forbesii Broad-pod false-thorn
Quite an attractive, deciduous, medium-sized (10 m) tree witha
spreading, dense, much-branched crown; usually single-stemmed,
branching low down; sometimes multi-stemmed; bark very smooth;
only very old stems divide into irregular blocks and strips.
Distribution: Rare; from south of Skukuza along the tarred road to
the extreme northern areas; found on granite, deep sand and stony,
sandy soils; often along rivers and rivulets — see Lower Sabie road.
Leaves: Relatively small (9 cm long), bipinnately compound with
two to five pairs of pinnae and many leaflets; petiole and rachis
hairy; one large gland on the petiole and one to three on the rachis.
or
Flowers: Small (3 cm in diameter), white inflorescences appear with
just after the new leaves at the twig terminals (October/N ovember);
contain a large number of florets; stamens long and widely
hard,
spreading, resemble pompons. Fruits: Pods dark brown, very
thick, large (14x 5 cm), rough, undulated, twisted and striated
on the
crosswise; edges straight; ripen in late summer, persistent
and
trees and do not split open. General: Sapwood pale brown
medium-he avy (air-dry 860 kg/m’), fairly
heartwood nearly black,
hard and produces a smooth finish; damage by wood-borer s
other browsing
extensive; leaves heavily utilized by elephants and
game; grows slowly; not cold resistant.
1 55 Albizia harveyi Common false-thorn
Large tree (15 m) but mostly small and even shrub-like in
unfavourable habitat conditions; deciduous; crown fairly spreading
and rather dense, roundish; stem bare and branches rather low
down; old stems dark grey and bark sub-divides into prominent
vertical ridges. Distribution: Occurs throughout the park on all
geological formations; larger specimens on alluvial soils of the flood
plains at Pafuri; abundant on low-lying brackish areas. Leaves:
Bipinnately compound with up to 15 pairs of pinnae and a large
number of leaflets per pinna; leaflets small (6 x 2 mm); leaves rather
large (up to 15 cm long); petiole and rachis hairy; glands very small,
dark brown and relatively long — one on the petiole and one each at
the junctions of the uppermost pairs of pinnae on the rachis.
Flowers: White, powder-puff inflorescences grouped at the twig
terminals; appear late in spring together with or soon after the new
leaves; about 3 cm in diameter and consist of a number of small
florets; stamens prominent. Fruits: Pods 13 x 3 cm, pale brown,
pergamentaceous, thin and flat; split open readily; usually masses of
pendent pods produced; ripen in late summer. General: Wood fairly
heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’); hard, pale brown and without
heartwood; finely textured and produces a fine finish; apparently
not generally used; leaves utilized by browsers; grows slowly;
probably not cold resistant.

56
1 oe Albizia tanganyicensis subsp. tanganyicensis Paperbark
false-thorn
Smallish (7 m), deciduous tree with a long, crooked, bare stem
branching high up; spreading, very sparse crown with few branches;
stems exceptionally smooth, white to yellow and bark mostly peels
off in large paper-thin flakes; living, green bark is covered by a
floury, white powder. Distribution: Only against the slopes of the
ridges in the Punda Maria area. Leaves: Sprouts very early in
spring; leaves initially red-brown, later dark buff-green; bipinnately
compound, very large (up to 30 cm long), four pairs of pinnae; four
to 10 pairs of relatively large (4 x 3 cm) leaflets per pinna; one large
(2 mm in diameter), dark brown gland on the petiole and the rest
only on the rachillae — one to five per pinna. Flowers: Inflorescences
(powder-puffs) emerge before the leaves (late winter/early spring);
composed of a number of small, snow-white florets; fairly large (5
cm in diameter); borne terminally; turn yellow within days. Fruits:
Pods; pale brown, oblong (18 x 4 cm), hard, smooth, hairless,
thickened longitudinally down the middle; split open readily when
ripe (summer). General: Wood light (air-dry 460 kg/m’), off-white,
soft, without heartwood; discoloration to red-brown caused by
insect damage; branches very brittle; contains a chemical substance
causing irritation in the nose and throat; severely damaged by
elephants; grows fairly fast; not cold resistant.

Si,
1 58 Albizia versicolor Large-leaved false-thorn

One ofthe most attractive and impressive trees of the Kruger Park;
up to 16 m high with a spreading, roundish to nearly umbrella-
shaped, fairly dense crown and a long, bare stem; bark grey, slightly
rough, broken up into flat blocks; deciduous leaves turn dark
yellow. Distribution: Mainly in well-drained granitic soil (sand) in
Pretoriuskop area as well as sandveld of Punda Maria; often grows
along rivulets. Leaves: Young leaves mostly dark red-brown, later
dark green; bipinnately compound, mostly with three pairs of
pinnae (1 to 4) and two to five pairs of leaflets per pinna; up to 30
cm long; leaflets large (5,5 x 3,5 cm); always a small, brown gland
on the petiole and apparently only one near the end of each rachilla.
Flowers: The powder-puff inflorescences are white and largest of
the local A/bizias; appear after the new leaves at the twig terminals
(November/December); composed of a number of florets with
prominent stamens. Fruits: Pods change colour from green to
yellow-green, wine-red and then pale brown when ripe; reddish
colour only on the sunny side; thin, oblong (20 x 5 cm),
pergamentaceous, smooth and hairless; reach maturity in autumn
and winter. General: Wood fairly soft and light (air-dry 650 kg/m’);
sapwood white and heartwood beige to red-brown (resembles
kiaat); excellent for manufacture of furniture, drums, pounding
blocks; bark utilized for preparation of poison for arrows but, with
the roots, used medicinally; leaves eaten by kudu and elephant;
grows fast; beautiful decorative and shade plant.

58
1 59 Acacia albida Ana tree

Outstandingly large (25 m) thorn tree; young trees slender; older

ones have wide-spreading crowns and characteristic pendent
branchlets; stems long, bare and branching high up; old stems grey-
brown: bark relatively smooth, sometimes breaks into small blocks;
deciduous: loses its leaves in summer. Distribution: Mainly confined
to the banks and beds of rivers and bigger spruits north of
Shingwedzi; a small number near Crocodile bridge and Lower
Sabie. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with four to seven pairs of
pinnae and normally 13 pairs of leaflets per pinna; up to 13 cm long,
characteristically pendent, pale buff-green to blue-green; small,
or just
pale brown glands present on the petiole and rachis between
each pair of pinnae. Flowers: Spike-like infloresce nces (up to
below
17 x 2.cm); each containing masses of small, yellowy-wh ite florets;
and
borne April/May, sometimes March. Fruits: Pods contorted
red and
curved, often intertwined; initially green, later developing
up to 15
brown spots; yellow-brown with red blotches when mature;
aceous, smooth, fairly thick; ripen early summer.
x 4cm, pergament
with a
Thorns: In pairs; straight, up to 2 cm long, pale coloured
often underdeve loped. General: Wood
dark base when fully grown;
without heartwood ; works easily; air-dry 540 kg/m’; only
off-white,
pods
used as firewood; infusions of the bark used medicinally;
fodder, eaten by a variety of wild animals; fast
highly regarded as
growing; cold resistant.

59
 1 61 Acacia burkei Black monkey thorn
Deciduous, medium-large (12 m) thorn tree with spreading, more
or less roundish crown and a long, straight, high-branching stem;
old bark breaks up into thick, grey, longitudinal ridges with yellow
in the grooves; resembles knobthorn. Distribution: Mainly on
granite, i.e. the western side of the park, and especially south of the
Olifants River; also in other areas such as the Lebombo range;
often in low-lying areas. Leaves: Bipinnately compound — mostly
RITILIS with four pairs of pinnae; petiole and rachis hairy; up to 10 cm long;
largest leaflets 1,6 x 1 cm, slightly hairy on the margins; glands
small, round, pale brown, one on the petiole and the rest on the
rachis as well as the rachillae between each pair ofleaflets. Flowers:
Spike-like inflorescences (up to 7 x 1 cm) containing a large number
of florets; stamens white and sepals red; borne October/November,
i.e. when trees are in full foliage. Fruits: Oblong pods (up to 9 x 1,6
cm); initially pale green to red-brown, later black; hard, smooth
with straight or sinuate edges; ripen in winter. Thorns: In pairs;
firm, short, sharply recurved, sharp, greyish-black; members of a
pair far apart; sometimes borne on knobs like in the case of
knobthorn. General: Wood yellow-brown, very hard, heavy (air-dry
900 kg/m’); difficult to work; used for the manufacture of furniture
and household articles; pods persistent on the trees; leaves utilized
by browsers — especially giraffe and elephant; grows slowly;
sensitive to cold conditions.

60
1 62 Acacia caffra Common hook-thorn

Deciduous, smallish (9 m) thorn tree with a sparsely-branched,

spreading, formless to roundish crown; stems mostly crooked; bark
pale to dark grey, shallowly grooved lengthwise; mostly occurs as a
multi-stemmed shrub in the park. Distribution: Mainly confined to
the south-western, i.e. Pretoriuskop area of the park; even there
fully grown specimens are rare. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with
up to 16 pairs of pinnae and about 30 pairs of leaflets per pinna,
leaflets small (8 x 1,5 mm); leaves rather large (up to 20 cm long);
small hooked thorns often occur on under side of rachis; glands
small, round, dark brown — one on the petiole and the rest on the
rachis at the junctions of the pinnae — sometimes absent. Flowers:
Spike-like racemes with many, pale yellow florets, about 7 x 1,5 cm;
solitary or in small groups; mostly flowers September/October but
also as early as July or as late as January. Fruits: Pods up to 10 x 1,3
cm, oblong, straight, flat, bare, rough; dehisce on the trees; borne
in pendent clusters; mostly ripe in midsummer. Thorns: Hooked
thorns in pairs; very sharp, hard, short (+5 mm), brown; members
of a pair far apart — sometimes on opposite sides of the twigs; absent
on thicker branches. General: Sapwood off-white and heartwood
nearly black; heavy (air-dry 980 kg/m’), very durable; used as
firewood and for fencing posts; excellent fodder tree — utilized by
domestic stock and game; grows fairly fast; cold resistant.

61
1 63 Acacia welwitschii subsp. delagoensis Delagoa thorn
Deciduous, medium-large (15 m) thorn tree with a spreading crown
and more or less straight stem; large branches high up but stems
often screened by smaller branchlets; bark pale grey, yellowish in
the cracks between the longitudinal ridges. Distribution: Confined
to the area south of the Olifants River and mainly on the contact
between granite (west) and basalt (east); isolated patches also occur
elsewhere, such as alongside the Lower Sabie and Hlangulene
roads. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with three to four pairs of
pinnae and up to eight pairs of leaflets per pinna; mostly small (up
to 4cm long); leaflets dark green, hairless, fairly small (7 x 4 mm);
only one small, brown gland present — i.e. on the petiole. Flowers:
Spike-like inflorescences borne in clusters; medium-large (7 x 1
cm); florets white; flowers November to January. Fruits: Pods
oblong; change colour from deep wine-red to nearly purple, then
green and later brown or black; ripen late autumn or winter.
Thorns: Borne in pairs; short, sharp, black hook thorns: members
of a pair initially close together but later further apart. General:
Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), very hard with yellow-brown
sapwood and black heartwood; difficult to saw, not insect proof;
important food plant for browsers, especially giraffe and elephant;
grows slowly and probably not cold resistant.

62
1 63 : 1 Acacia davyi Corky thorn
Small (4 m), deciduous tree with a short, straight stem anda
sparsely spreading crown; stem often screened by lateral branchlets;
bark corky, longitudinally grooved, exceptionally pale buff-brown
to yellow-brown. Distribution: Limited to some of the highest peaks
of the Malelane mountains. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with up
to 20 pairs of pinnae and 44 pairs of leaflets per pinna; up to 15 cm
long; leaflets small (5 x 1 mm), pale green, densely packed.
Flowers: Inflorescences globose, bright yellow, borne in the leaf
axils; appear during the summer months. Fruits: Borne in clusters,
long (up to 10 cm) and narrow, straight or slightly curved, edges
slightly sinuate; thin; ripen middle summer to spring. Thorns:
Straight or slightly bent, thin, up to 3 cm long; borne in pairs.
General: No other information available.

63
1 64 Acacia eiceecens Blue thorn

Small (6 m), deciduous thorn tree with a short, low-branching stem

and a twiggy, sparse and slightly flattened crown; often shrubby and
multi-stemmed; bark yellow and peels off in thin, yellow flakes; old
stems grey. (Elsewhere in the Transvaal it is much larger with a
wide-spreading crown; young trees upright with limited spreading
of the crown.) Distribution: Widely spread in the park but only
occurs in isolated patches, for instance on the Malelane mountains,
the Lebombo range and to the west of Shingwedzi along the river.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to six pairs of pinnae and 20
pairs of leaflets per pinna); fairly small (6 cm long); leaflets small (5
x | mm); one to five glands on the petiole and rachis in the normal
positions and sometimes two on the petiole. Flowers: Inflorescences
spike-like, small (4 x 1 cm) and borne in groups; florets yellowish-
white with pale red sepals; appear before the new leaves in
September/October. Fruits: Pods flat, slightly rough, thin,
pergamentaceous, oblong (10 x 1,5 cm), pale brown; ripen during
late summer; persistent on the trees. Thorns: Hooked thorns in
pairs but rather far apart; sharply recurved; up to 6 mm long with a
grey-brown base and a black tip. General: Wood heavy (air-dry
1 070 kg/m*); sapwood yellow or off-white and heartwood dark
brown; difficult to saw and work; damaged by wood-borers; leaves
utilized by browsers; grows slowly; fairly cold resistant; tends to
encroach.

64
1 67 Acacia gerrardii var. gerrardii Red thorn
Small to medium-large (10 m), deciduous thorn tree with a long,
straight stem branching high up; stems often screened by small
branches; crown spreading, fairly sparse and often obliquely
flattened; twig terminals hairy and often red-brown; old bark black
and deeply grooved longitudinally. Distribution: Widely spread in
the park on almost all soil types but more abundant in low-lying
areas with poorly drained, brackish soils. Leaves: Bipinnately
compound (six to 11 pairs of pinnae and up to 20 pairs of leaflets per
pinna); up to 10 cm long; leaflets small (5 x 1 mm) and dark green,
hairless; petiole and rachis pubescent; a large, pale brown, ovoid
gland on the petiole and four, or less, smaller ones on the rachis but
seldom on the rachillae. Flowers: Inflorescences globose, snow-
white powder-puffs of 2 cm in diameter; borne in masses (up to 33
have been counted) in the axils of the thorns, sometimes even on
rather thick branches; borne December/January. Fruits: Pods
sickle-shaped, glabrous, glossy, slightly thickened, up to 8x 1cm;
dark brown when ripe (winter); dehisce while still on the trees;
masses usually produced. Thorns: Straight, in pairs, up to 6cm
long, white, hard, sharp; initially hairy; sometimes under-
developed; in the first season a leaf is borne in the groove formed by
a pair of thorns. General: Wood off-white with a brown tinge, fairly
hard, medium-heavy (air-dry 900 kg/m’); coarsely grained;
apparently not used at all; severely damaged by wood-borers; inner
bark used to plait ropes; leaves and pods eaten by browsers; grows
fairiy fast; very attractive during flowering time.

65
 nS AE ARE RIB OIE

1 68. 1 Acacia grandicornuta Horned thorn

Smallish (9 m), deciduous thorn tree with a spreading, roundish to
formless crown and a low-branching, bare, crooked stem; bark dark
grey and fairly deeply grooved longitudinally. (Elsewhere in the
Transvaal it isa much more slender, upright and much larger tree.)
Distribution: Mainly confined to the brackish flats in the south of
the park, especially along the Sabie River, but also at Pafuri.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to three pairs of pinnae and 15
pairs of leaflets per pinna); up to 7 cm long; hairless; leaflets
9x 3mm; the usual large gland on the petiole often absent; one
or two near the tip of the rachis also present only occasionally;
microscopically small glands on the rachillae persistently present
between each pair of leaflets. Flowers: Inflorescences white (seldom
yellow), globose powder-puffs; borne in groups of up to 20; 1 cm in
diameter; appear very irregularly between October and March on
the same tree sometimes several times during one season. Fruits:
Almost sickle-shaped pods, up to 13 x 7 cm, borne in clusters; buff-
brown and smooth, edges sometimes sinuate around the seeds:
seeds adhere to the pods long after dehiscence; ripen from autumn
to winter. Thorns: Straight, in pairs, white, hard and sharp; up to
8 cm long; sometimes one or both of the pair underdeveloped.
General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 770 kg/m’), hard, pale brown,
without heartwood; produces a smooth finish: damaged by wood-
borers; apparently not used in any way; leaves utilized by browsers
and pods by baboons and monkeys, especially the seeds; grows
fairly fast with cultivation; not cold resistant.

66
1 T2 Acacia karroo Sweet thorn

Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with spreading, roundish crown and

a low-branching stem; sometimes stems exceptionally long and bare
and crowns slender (Malelane mountains); old stems black/dark
grey and the bark splits up into narrow, irregular, longitudinal
ridges. Distribution: Virtually confined to the Pretoriuskop/
Malelane area; a few specimens northwest of Punda Maria. Leaves:
Bipinnately compound (up to 10 pairs of pinnae and 22 pairs of
leaflets per pinna); up to 10 cm long; leaflets small (6 x 1 mm), dark
green, hairless; one or two large, brown glands on the petiole and
one or more smaller ones on the rachis. Flowers: Bright yellow
powder-puffs consisting of a large number of florets; 1,3 cm in
diameter; borne December/January. Fruits: Nearly sickle-shaped
pods, up to 12 cm long, sometimes clearly sinuate around the seeds;
dark brown when ripe; dehisce on the trees; reach maturity in
long;
April/May. Thorns: Straight, in pairs, white, sharp, up to 7 cm
absent from some branches. General: Wood off-white to
sometimes
800 kg/m’); works easily,
pale brown, fairly hard and heavy (air-dry
severely damaged by insects; used in wagon and furniture
used for
manufacturing as well as the building trade, medicinally
contains tannin; living bark used
treatment of a variety of ailments;
baskets and ropes; gum sometimes used in
to manufacture
tree; fast
pharmaceutical products; valuable and well-known fodder
conditions; adapted to extremes in
growing under favourable
temperature.

67
1 74. 1 Acacia luederitzii var. retinens Belly thorn
Smallish (7 m), deciduous, sparse tree with a formless crown and a
short, crooked, low-branching stem; sometimes multi-stemmed;:
exceptionally twiggy; old bark black/dark grey and longitudinally
grooved. Distribution: Only in the immediate vicinity of Orpen rest
camp/Marula caravan camp and north-east thereof. Leaves:
Bipinnately compound (up to nine pairs of pinnae and 19 pairs of
leaflets per pinna); at the most 3 cm long; leaflets very small (2 x 0,5
mm); petiole and rachis hairy; one flat, oval-shaped gland on the
petiole, the rest very small, brown and situated on the rachis above
the junctions of the pinnae, some sometimes absent. Flowers: Small
number of florets borne in round, white, powder-puff
inflorescences; usually in pairs amongst the leaves; appear very late
in the season (January to March). Fruits: Pods oblong/oval, up to 6
x 1 cm, bulging on broad surfaces, initially hairy and later hairless,
brown at maturity (autumn or winter); dehisce on the trees and
persist for some time but seeds do not hang below the pods as in the
species with sickle-shaped pods. Thorns: Hooked thorns in pairs,
sharply recurved, short (4 mm); fairly sharp, hairy when young,
black; some thorns abnormally large (up to 4 x 1,5 cm) and white,
appear to be inflated, not recurved but slightly bent towards the
inside, probably caused by insects. General: Wood hard and heavy
(air-dry 1 000 kg/m’), pale brown, without heartwood; even living
wood seriously damaged by insects; most probably utilized by
browsers; growth rate very slow.

68
1 78 Acacia nigrescens Knob thorn

Medium-large (16 m), deciduous thorn tree with a spreading, fairly

dense crown and mostly a long, bare stem; old stems dark grey with
bark deeply grooved longitudinally. Distribution: Distributed more
or less throughout the park with the exception of the sandy soils at
Pretoriuskop; especially abundant on the basaltic soils in the
eastern half of the park between the Crocodile River and the
Olifants River as well as on doleritic soils; also on low-lying granitic
soils. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with a maximum of three pairs
of pinnae (mostly two) and two pairs of leaflets (mostly one) per
pinna; leaflets up to 3 x 1,8 cm, hairless; all glands small, one on the
leaf
petiole and the rest on the rachis, the number varying from one
Inflorescenc es spike-like with a large number
to the next. Flowers:
of white florets; appear in August/September but sometimes in
June. Fruits: Pods oblong (mostly up to 12 x 7 cm); borne in
n
pendent clusters; initially pale green in the shade and greyish-gree
of the
to red-brown in the sun but greyish-black when ripe; edges
thorns
pods fairly straight; ripen during summer. Thorns: Hooked
short (5 mm), hairless, black, far apart; bark below the
in pairs;
up to 2,5 cm high and 1,5 cmin
thorns form conspicuous knobs of
dirty yellow
diameter which are very persistent. General: Sapwood
and heartwood dark brown, very hard and heavy (air-dry
valuable fodder
1 100 kg/m’); contains tannin; not used medicinally;
plant utilized by a variety of browser s such as elephan t and giraffe;
drought resistant; growth rate slow, sensitive to frost.

69
1 19 Acacia nilotica subsp. kraussiana Scented thorn
Smallish (7 m), deciduous thorn tree with a nearly umbrella-shaped
to roundish crown with pendent branch terminals and a short, bare,
crooked stem; bark dark grey/black, deeply grooved longitudinally.
Distribution: Throughout the park but only on the low-lying
brackish areas along spruits and rivers in the southern areas really
abundant; seldom in rocky situations or near year-round water.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to six pairs of pinnae and 18
pairs of leaflets per pinna); 4 cm long at the most; leaflets small
(4x 1 mm), hairless; petiole hairy; all glands the same size, minute,
occur on the petiole and rachis below each pinna pair; some of the
lower Ones sometimes absent. Flowers: Round, powder-puff
inflorescences, yellow, 1 cm in diameter, fragrant and borne in
groups of up to four amongst the leaves; appear sporadically from
October to February. Fruits: Most characteristic pods of all local
Acacias; up to 20 cm long (mostly 12 x 1,5 cm), oblong, bulging over
and sinuate around the seeds, therefore look segmented; initially
green with red hairs and later bare, dark brown to black: contain a
sticky fluid with a sharp odour; ripen during winter. Thorns: In
pairs with common bases; straight but slightly curved backwards;
smooth and white when full-grown; sharp, hard, long (up to 9 cm),
fairly thin; often over or underdeveloped. General: Wood hard and
heavy (air-dry | 100 kg/m’); finely textured; sapwood pale brown
and heartwood dark brown to red-brown: dyes (red, black, yellow)
produced from the pods which also have a high nutritional value;
leaves eaten by several browsing species; grows slowly; fairly cold
resistant.

70
1 80 Acacia polyacantha subsp. campylacantha White thorn

Large (20 m), deciduous tree with a relatively poorly spreading,

sparse, formless to roundish crown; exceptionally long, bare stem
and long, bare branches; lateral branches persist on the stems of
young trees for quite some time; old bark pale to dark grey, fairly
deeply grooved lengthwise and peels off in large, corky flakes
exposing the new, yellow bark. Distribution: Very rare in the
rest
Kruger Park, only growing in moist conditions at Punda Maria
near Shingwedz i and at Pafuri, north of
camp, north-west thereof,
Luvuvhu River. Leaves: Bipinnate ly compound (up to 40 pairs
the
pairs
of pinnae and a very large number of leaflets, as much as 65
counted); up to 25 cm long; leaflets small
per pinna have been
underside of
(5x 1mm), hairless; small hook thorns occur on the
oval gland (4mm in diameter) on
the rachis; exceptionally large,
two smaller ones on the rachis at the junctions of
petiole, sometime s
Flowers: Large number
the pinnae, all of them red-brown to black.
sparse, spike-like
of florets packed together in long (13 cm), white,
nces; solitary or in groups in the leaf axils; borne
infloresce
clusters; oblong (up
December to February. Fruits: Pods in pendent
ripen
to 12x 1,6 cm), flat, glossy, pale to dark brown at maturity;
st. Thorns: In pairs but the members very far apart;
July/Augu
wn to red-
slightly curved, very hard, sharp, flattened, green-bro
stage and later brown with a black tip; up to 2. cm
brown in juvenile
heartwood , fairly light
long. General: Wood light coloured, without
a smooth finish; damaged by borers
(air-dry 640 kg/m’); produces
once used in mining operations ; exudes palatable
when still alive;
against snakebite;
gum; infusions of the roots used medicinally, e.g.
bark; leaves utilized by elephant; grows
_cord plaited from living
fast; probably sensitive to cold.
71
1 83. 1 Acacia robusta subsp. clavigera Brack thorn
Large (20 m), deciduous thorn tree with a very wide-spreading,
round, dense crown and a bare, medium-long stem; foliage
exceptionally dark green; old stems dark grey/black; bark develops
shallow, longitudinal grooves. Distribution: Throughout the park
on the banks of rivers and spruits; several at Tshokwane tearoom.
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to five pairs of pinnae anda
maximum of 17 pairs of leaflets); up to 13 cm long; leaflets up to 1,2
x 0,3 cm, hairless; one pale brown to black gland always present on
the rachis near the top, middle section of rachis without glands;
drop-shaped gland on the petiole only when leaves are on new
twigs. Flowers: Inflorescences round, sparse, white powder-puffs
(2 cm diameter); borne in groups; up to 25 have been counted per
group; sometimes appear as early as July but usually in
August/September. Fruits: Almost sickle-shaped pods, solitary or
in groups, fairly hard, oblong, up to 13 x 2cm, thickened along the
middle over the entire length; dehisce while still on the trees but
seeds drop much later; ripen in later summer. Thorns: In pairs with
communal base, relatively soft, straight, sharp, white, up to5 cm
long (seldom 10); often under-developed. General: Wood fairly
heavy (air-dry 880 kg/m’), sapwood pale yellow-brown and
heartwood apparently dark red but even in logs of 40 cm in
diameter I have not been able to establish the presence of
heartwood; unsuitable for carpentry; does not crack but warps
badly; used for manufacturing of yokes; inner bark used to
manufacture cordage; leaves eaten by kudu and elephant (seldom
);
grows fast; fairly frost resistant.

72
1 85 Acacia senegal var. leiorhachis Slender three-hook thorn

Small (6 m), slender, deciduous tree with a poorly spreading, sparse

crown with one or two branches usually towering above the rest;
branches low down and stem screened by lateral branchlets; old
bark grey leaving yellow patches when it flakes off. Distribution:
Only in a few areas in the park, e.g. near the Mozambique border
south of Pafuri, on Dzundwini hill near Punda Maria, the vicinity of
the Olifants River and near Malelane rest camp; everywhere rare.
17
Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to seven pairs of pinnae and
pairs of leaflets per pinna); up to 10. cm long; leaflets 8 x 2mm,
hairless: small hook thorns often on under side of rachis and
the tip of
petiole; glands small, brown — one on petiole and two near
the rachis. Flowers: Florets packed together in long, white,
conspicuous spikes; spikes up to 10 x 2 cm; solitary or in pairs;
Pods
borne in August/September when trees are leafless. Fruits:
(10 x 2,5 cm), flat, thin, thickened at the edges, finely hairy;
oblong
on the trees;
ripen in November/December and dehisce while still
shells for a long time afterwards . Thorns: In
seeds adhere to the
of three; two curved upwards and the other downwards; old
groups
but move
thorns black with pale brown tips; initially close together
thickening of the branchlets ; persist for a long time; up to
apart with
Wood hard, heavy
8 mm long, hard, exceptionally sharp. General:
(air-dry 930 kg/m’), pale brown, without heartwood , apparently not
damaged by wood-bore rs; best quality arabic gum
used, severely
infusions of roots used
produced by A. senegal from Senegal;
utilized by browsers but not extensively ;
medicinally; leaves
slow growing; seed production very poor.
probably

73
1 ODt 1 Acacia senegal var. rostrata Three-hook thorn
Small (5 m), deciduous tree with a spreading, more or less flat-
topped, dense crown and a short, bare trunk; old stems
predominantly yellow and the bark peels off in thin, small flakes.
Distribution: Only in the area south of Tshokwane but not in the
vicinity of Pretoriuskop; usually on the low-lying brackish areas
near rivers and spruits. Leaves: Bipinnately compound (up to five
pairs of pinnae and 10 pairs of leaflets per pinna); small (4,5 cm
long); leaflets small (5 x 1 mm); often small hook thorns on the
undersides of petiole and rachis; ovoid glands minute, largest on the
petiole and one each at topmost, two or three pinnae on the rachis,
one or more sometimes absent. Flowers: Snow-white florets packed
together in short (5,5 cm), thin (1 cm) spikes; usually borne in pairs;
appear November/December. Fruits: Pods very flat, thin, short and
relatively broad (6 x 2,5 cm), edges irregularly sinuate around the
seeds; buff-green and covered by small hairs when young but later
hairless and pale brown; ripen in autumn. Thorns: In groups of
three; two curved upwards and one downwards: initially red-brown
and hairy and later black and hairless: very hard, sharp, up to 8 mm
long; move apart when the branchlets thicken: persist for a long
time. General: Wood off-white, without heartwood, hard,
heavy
(air-dry 990 kg/m’); living trees severely damaged by wood-borers
;
leaves and pods eaten by impala; grows slowly; sensitive to
frost.

74
1 8/ Acacia sieberiana var. woodii Paperbark thorn

Medium to large (12 m), deciduous tree with a flat-topped,

yellow-
spreading crown (sometimes round) and a long, bare, dark
grey stem; old bark breaks up vertically and peels off in flat, thin,
grey blocks exposing the yellow, underlyin g bark. Distributi on:
kop
Rare in the park; only known trees are confined to the Pretorius
bridge and the Hlangulen e picnic spot;
vicinity, near Crocodile
(up to
prefers fairly wet conditions. Leaves: Bipinnately compound
leaflets per pinna); up to 15 cm
19 pairs of pinnae and 35 pairs of
small (6 x 1 mm), hairless; glands small, round and
long; leaflets
or more of the
brown; larger one on the petiole and the rest at one
the rachis. Flowers: Florets white with
topmost pairs of pinnae on
packed into globose heads (1,2 cm in diameter); heads
yellow bases,
November /Decembe r.
solitary or in groups (up to four); borne
very hard,
Fruits: Pods mostly solitary, oblong (20 x 3 cm), thick,
or slightly curved; initially conspicuo usly hairy and later
straight
dehisce gradually
glabrous, smooth and dirty yellow to pale brown,
after being dropped; ripen in late autumn/winter.
and only partially
10 cm long, strong,
Thorns: In pairs on a communal basis; up to
tips, straight; hairy at the base when
sharp, white with brown
not move apart with
young; often under-developed or absent; do
yellow tinge; without
time. General: Wood off-white with
light (air-dry 720 kg/m’); coarsely grained; not
heartwood; fairly
pods valuable fodder
durable; damaged by insects; seldom used;
fast growing; fairly cold resistant.
but contains hydrocyanic acid;

75
 1 88 Acacia tortilis subsp. heteracantha Umbrella thorn
Medium-large (11 m), deciduous tree with an exceptionally wide-
spreading, mostly umbrella-shaped crown and a fairly short, bare,
crooked stem and bare branches; bark dark grey and deeply
grooved longitudinally. Distribution: Throughout most of the park
but only in certain areas really abundant: largest trees near the
rivers and larger spruits such as the Luvuvhu, Tsende and
Timbavati. Leaves: Bipinnately compound with up to 13 pairs of
pinnae and 19 pairs of leaflets per pinna; only up to 3 cm long;
leaflets exceptionally small (1,5 x 0,5 mm): glands small and pale
brown, largest on the petiole and smaller ones on the rachis at the
last two pairs of pinnae.Flowers: Large number of white florets
packed in dense, globose, fragrant heads (7 mm in diameter); borne
only on old wood and in groups (up to 18 together); normal
flowering time is November/December but flowering takes place
sporadically, mostly within days before rain. Fruits: Pods spirally
curled and twisted forming intertwined clusters: oblong (about
10 x
7 cm); flat but bulging over the seeds; hairless, ribbed lengthwise
and pale brown when ripe (May/June); fall without dehiscing.
Thorns: Thorns in pairs with both recurved or straight or
one
recurved and one straight; hook thorns short (4 mm),
hard, sharp
and brownish-black; straight thorns long (6 cm), thin, hard,
sharp,
and white; members of a pair occupy a common base.
General:
Sapwood pale brown, heartwood red-brown and very
hard; heavy
(air-dry 990 kg/m’); well-known fodder tree especially
due to the
nutritional value of the pods and leaves: fairly drought
resistant;
grows slowly; cold resistant.

76
1 89 Acacia xanthophloea Fever tree

Medium-large (15 m), deciduous tree with spreading, sparse,

mostly roundish crown and very long, bare stem, old stems
exceptionally smooth, indentated, yellowish-green and powdery;
bark sporadically peels off in paper-thin flakes. Distribution: Only
grows in the eastern half of the park (basalt) in spruits and
depressions and next to rivers; needs moist conditions; most
impressive stand of trees at Pafuri. Leaves: Bipinnately compound
(up to seven pairs of pinnae and up to 17 pairs of leaflets per pinna);
hairy;
up to 10 cm long; leaflets small (7 x | mm); petiole and rachis
and others at the topmost one to three pairs
largest gland on petiole
dense,
of pinnae on the rachis. Flowers: Fragrant, golden yellow,
globose powder-puffs (1 cm in diameter); solitary or in small
in July.
groups; normally borne August/September but sometimes
Fruits: Pods oblong, slightly sickle-shaped, up to lO xalRoremar
slightly
pergamentaceous, flat, brown when ripe, margins (sides)
around each seed; ripen in late summer. Thorns: Fairly long
sinuate
pairs on a
(up to 8 cm), straight, fairly hard, sharp, white, in
for a long time; sometimes under-devel oped
common base; persist
fairly
or absent. General: Wood pale brown, without heartwood,
finish;
hard and heavy (air-dry 910 kg/m’); produces a smooth
damage by exceptionall y large wood-borers ; used as
suffers severe
rather limited;
timber for carpentry; medicinal value apparently
wild animal
pods, leaves, branches and gum utilized by various
do extensive damage; common name derived
species; elephants
mosquito and the tree prefer
from the fact that the malaria-carrying
unique parasitic flowering plant, Sarcophyte
the same habitat; a
y fast (up to 7 min
sanguinea, grows on the roots, grows exceptionall
first three years); sensitive to frost.
77
1 90 Dichrostachys cinerea subsp. africana var. africana and
var. pubescens Sickle bush
Small (barely 5 m), deciduous, upright tree without a definite crown
but widening towards the top; mostly a multi-stemmed shrub; single
stems sub-divide near the ground; branches lax; bark grey-brown
and shallowly grooved longitudinally. Distribution: Throughout the
park but not in the Pretoriuskop area; very abundant on the
brackish soils south of the Sabie River as well as on parts of the
Lebombo flats (basalt). Leaves: Bipinnately compound with up to
eight pairs of pinnae and up to 30 pairs of leaflets per pinna; up to
5.cm long; leaflets small (3 x 0,5 mm); glands very small, brown,
short with a small hole at the top; one on the petiole and one each at
the junctions of the last two pairs of pinnae on the rachis: plants
with (var. pubescens) tomentose leaflets are rather abundant in the
north of the park (Punda Maria). Flowers: Inflorescences are
pendent, cylindrical spikes (4 to 5 cm long); basal part (about one-
third) consists of bright pinky-mauve sterile florets and the rest pale
yellow, fertile and bisexual ones; flowering season influenced by
rainfall and can last from September to February. Fruits: Pods
twisted and inter-twined, forming spherical clusters: pods oblong
(up to 7x 1 cm), dark brown, flat; do not dehisce on the tree; ripen
in late summer/autumn. Thorns: Not thorns in the true sense of
the
word but thorn-like, modified, lateral twigs; occur in pairs; one
or
both often under-developed. General: Wood exceptionally hard,
heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), finely textured; produces a very smooth
finish; durable; sapwood light brown to yellow-brown and
heartwood dark brown; pods highly nutritious; grows slowly;
not
resistant to extremely cold conditions; tends to encroach.

78
1 90. 1 Dichrostachys cinerea subsp. nyassana
Large-leaved sickle bush

Small (5 m) tree (or multi-stemmed shrub) with a wide-spreading,

sparse, flattish crown and a low-branching, bare, crooked stem;
bark light grey to dark grey and deeply grooved lengthwise.
Distribution: Widely distributed in the park but confined to the
granitic and sandy soils of the western half of the park; one of the
dominant woody plants in the Pretoriuskop area. Leaves:
Bipinnately compound (up to 12 pairs of pinnae and 27 pairs of
leaflets per pinna); up to 25 cm long; leaflets small (1,1 x 0,3 cm);
glands conspicuous, long, very thin, green with brown tips; mostly
only on the rachis, i.e. at the junction of the lowest pinna pair and
the others at the topmost, Ist to 6th pairs. Flowers: Like those of
subsp. africana but slightly longer (up to 6 cm); borne between
those
November and February, depending on rainfall. Fruits: Like
of the other subspecies but slightly bigger (up to 10 cm long);
clusters fall as a whole; ripe in autumn. Thorns: Modified lateral
twigs; very hard, sharp; bear leaves and flowers; more prominent
of
than in the other subspecies. General: Wood similar to that
used as
africana; cordage manufactured from the living bark; stems
and roots used medicinally ; pods
fencing posts; infusions of bark
utilized by
highly nutritious, probably contains hydrocyanic acid;
some localities;
domestic stock and game; occur in dense stands in
grows slowly; fairly cold resistant.

79
1 91 Newtonia hildebrandtii var. hildebrandtii Lebombo wattle

Exceptionally large (15 m), deciduous tree with a wide-spreading,

fairly dense crown and a thick, long, bare stem; old stems dark grey;
bark initially sub-divides into vertical strips but on old stems no
definite pattern, peels off in strips and small blocks. Distribution:
Confined to the Lebombo mountain range immediately south and
north of the Olifants River. Leaves: Bipinnately compound (two to
seven pairs of pinnae and up to 23 pairs of leaflets per pinna); up to
9 cm long; leaflets small (6 x 1 mm); a small, round, brown gland
occurs at the junction of every pinna pair with the rachis. Flowers:
Florets very small, white, borne in long (8 cm), spike-like
inflorescences; appear November/December. Fruits: Exceptionally
flat pods; oblong, almost sickle-shaped, long (20 x 3 cm); initially
dark red and later brown to black; seeds unique since they are very
flat and winged as well; reach maturity in autumn/winter. General:
Wood hard, heavy (air-dry 1 070 kg/m’); sapwood light brown with
a reddish tinge and heartwood dark brown to black; no other
information available at present.

80
1 92 Xylia torreana Sand ash

Medium-sized (10 m), deciduous, upright tree which sometimes

spreads at the top to form a roundish crown; stem low-branching or
trees may even be multi-stemmed; lateral branchlets, or shoots
from the ground, screen the stems; old bark grey and rough, seldom
peels off in small, flat flakes. Distribution: Only in the Nwambiya
sandveld south of Pafuri next to Mozambique and the sandveld
northwest of Punda Maria. Leaves: Characteristically bipinnately
compound with only one pinna pair, six pairs of leaflets per pinna;
up to 20 cm long; leaflets large (up to 10 x 4 cm), brown and covered
by hairs when young, then red-brown and at maturity dark green
and hairless on the upper sides and densely hairy on the lower sides;
one flattened, brown, slightly sunken gland on the petiole and
one to
smaller ones on the pinnae at the junctions of the uppermost
in the
three pairs of leaflets. Flowers: Inflorescences dark brown
(2 cm
bud stage; when mature globose, conspicuous, fragrant heads
consisting of a large number of florets with white
in diameter),
on new
filaments and yellow anthers; borne solitary or in groups
new leaves in October/N ovember. Fruits:
growth; appear before
resemble broad ‘pangas’; very hard, woody, dark brown when
Pods
the trees when
mature, hairy, up to 10 x 5 cm; dehisce while still on
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 000 kg/m’);
ripe (May to July).
lighter
sapwood light brown and heartwood dark brown with
eat the
blotches; severely damaged by wood-borers; other insects
cylindrical ‘shelters’ on the stems under which the
bark and weave
by elephants; rather slow
insects move unseen; occasionally utilized
growing; sensitive to cold.

81
1 97 Burkea africana Wild seringa
Medium-large (15 m), deciduous tree with an exceptionally long,
bare stem and framework of branches; crown spreading, mostly
flat-topped but sometimes round; stem dark grey; bark rough and
sub-divided into small blocks; living bark blood-red. Distribution:
Confined to the sandveld area around Punda Maria; can be seen
along the Mahogany-loop and at Dzundwini hill. Leaves:
Bipinnately compound (two or three pairs of pinnae and up to 12
pairs of leaflets per pinna); up to 60 cm long, usually smaller;
characteristically pendent; leaflets blue-green, up to5x2,5cm,
marginally entire, hairless; petioles yellow-green but initially
covered by red-brown hairs; no glands present. Flowers: Fragrant,
small, white to creamy coloured; closely packed in long (up to
25 cm), thin (8 mm) spikes; peduncles hairy; appear October/
November, before, together with or after emergence of new leaves.
Fruits: Non-dehiscent pods; small, single-seeded, flat, smooth,
hard, woody, up to 7 x 2 cm, oval: margins straight; ripen in
February/March and persist on the trees for a long time. General:
Wood hard, tough, medium-heavy (air-dry 730 kg/m’); sapwood
white and heartwood pale red to red-brown; works rather easily and
polishes very well; heartwood durable; used for manufacturing
of
furniture, parquet floors, fencing posts, etc.; limited medicinal
value; high tannin contents; apparently easily killed by veldfires;
only utilized by elephants; grows slowly; fairly cold resistant but
will
not withstand severe frost.

82
1 98 Colophospermum mopane Mopane

Large (18 m); deciduous (spring) tree; mostly rather poorly

spreading in a V-shape or with a roundish crown, stem long and
bare: multi-stemmed shrub form abundant; old stems grey to nearly
white (sunny side), otherwise dark grey; bark deeply grooved
lengthwise. Distribution: Covers, with few exceptions, entire area
north of the Olifants River; also west of the Timbavati River and
down to nearly as far as Orpen rest camp; on the Lebombo it also
extends south of the Olifants. Leaves: Consist of two papilionaceous
leaflets — mirror-images of each other — on a common petiole;
up to
marginally entire, hairless; on average 8 x 3,5 cm—sometimes
borne in
20 cm long. Flowers: Inconspicuous; predominantly green;
pendent clusters near the twig terminals; appear in
flat,
December/January. Fruits: Non-dehiscent pods in clusters;
thin, semi-lunar in shape, 5 x 2 cm, biscuit-coloured, one-seeded;
sticky;
seed flat, wrinkled, light brown, covered by reddish glands,
in April/May . General: Wood attractive; heavy (air-dry
ripen
ood mainly
1 200 kg/m’), sapwood off-white to light brown, heartw
d, resin-li ke odour; termite -resist ant, used
dark brown and blotche
cturin g of furnitu re; most stems hollow; only a few
for manufa
high; cordage
medicinal uses; phosphate and calcium contents
living bark; domesti c stock eat leaves, especially when
plaited from
plant of the mopane
dry; ranks high in diet of the elephant; food
tenden cy to shrubby growth ascribed
worm (Gonimbrasia belina);
on (primar ily) and veld fires (second ary); grows
to soil conditi
slowly; not cold resistant.
200 Guibourtia conjugata Small copalwood
Small to medium-large (12 m), deciduous, upright tree with a
middling-wide, roundish crown only in case of large specimens;
stem long, straight, bare, smooth, yellow-green with scattered
sections of grey bark peeling off in small flakes. Distribution:
Confined to the deep, sandy soils around Punda Maria and the
Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri on the Mozambique border.
Leaves: Consist of two leaflets; papilionaceous — mirror-images of
each other —up to 6 x 4 cm, blue-green, marginally entire; five
major veins originate from the leaf base. Flowers: Small (5 mm in
diameter), white, globose in the bud stage, stellate when open;
borne in sparse panicles at the twig terminals; appear January to
March. Fruits: Flat pods, oval to drop-shaped, 4 x 3 cm, slightly
rough, brown, central part thickened, indehiscent: ripen in winter.
General: Wood quite heavy (air-dry 980 kg/m’), hard, finely
grained; sapwood off-white to yellow-white and heartwood
brownish-black to pitch-black with light yellow blotches; heartwood
very durable; source of inhambane-resin; utilized by elephants;
grows slowly; sensitive to frost.

84
202 Schotia brachypetala Weeping boer-bean
Medium-sized (12 m), deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, round
to umbrella-shaped crown and drooping branch-ends; stems sub-
divide relatively low; bark rough, dark grey, breaks up into small,
irregular blocks which peel off. Distribution: Fairly generally
throughout the park but more abundant south of the Sabie River;
invariably grows on termitaria or the banks of rivers and spruits.
Leaves: Pinnately compound with four pairs of leaflets (seldom
less); up to 18 cm long; leaflets up to 6,5 x 4cm, elliptic to oblong,
asymmetrical, hairless, marginally entire, glossy dark green; young
leaves brown to brown-red and exceptionally shiny. Flowers: Very
attractive; waxy florets borne in dense clusters at the twig terminals;
exceptionally rich in nectar; all parts with exception of the anthers
dark red; petals absent; appears early spring, sometimes in
abundance but in some years very poorly. Fruits: Pods nearly
sickle-shaped, up to 16 x 4.cm, flat, hard, dark brown, rough;
attached
dehisce while still on the trees; pale yellow, sticky arils are
in late summer. General: Sapwood
to the dark brown seeds; ripen
yellow-grey and heartwood dark brown to black, finely grained,
ng
hard, quite heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’); fine timber for manufacturi
low; leaves are shed over a very short
of furniture; medicinal value
period in spring, new ones appearing immediately afterwards;
is utilized
nectar which drips to the ground when branch is shaken,
birds and insects; grows slowly; fairly cold
by baboons, monkeys,
resistant; exceptional decorative and shade tree.

85
207 Afzelia quansensis Pod mahogany
Very large (20 m), deciduous tree with very wide-spreading, dense,
round to flat-topped crown and a long, bare stem; stems initially
smooth; old stems dark grey and bark peels off in irregular blocks
leaving yellow marks. Distribution: On koppies, ridges and deep,
sandy soil; abundant in the Punda Maria area; also in the Nwambiya
sandveld and the Lebombo range down to the Crocodile River;
some trees south of Orpen gate and others next to the Hlangulene
road. Leaves: Pinnately compound with up to seven pairs of leaflets,
up to 40 cm long (mostly 15 cm); leaflets usually 5,5 x 3cm
(sometimes up to 10 cm long), glossy, dark green, elliptic,
marginally entire. Flowers: Relatively large, conspicuous,
attractive, borne in terminal clusters; characterized by a single, big
petal with red speckles; stamens green; flowering sometimes
commences end of August but mostly October/November. Fruits:
Large pods (20 x 7 cm), semi-lunar, flat, thick, very hard (woody),
dark brown, smooth; dehisce while still on the trees; seeds black
with red, waxy arils at the bases, large (3 x 1,5 cm); ripen in
autumn. General: Wood valuable; finely textured, fairly hard and
heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’), insect proof; boards 5 x 1 m not
uncommon; produces a smooth finish; sapwood greyish-yellow to
light brown and heartwood red-brown with blotches: medicinally
rather important; seeds are strung into necklaces; food source for
elephants; grows very slowly; very sensitive to frost.

86
209 Piliostigma thonningii Camel’s foot

Smallish (6 m), deciduous tree, crown spreading, roundish, often

flattened on top, dense with pendent branch ends; stems short,
bare, crooked, light grey to nearly black; old bark splits into
longitudinal ridges but not deeply grooved. Distribution: On sandy
soil; only in the Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria areas and a small
area south of Orpen rest camp. Leaves: Simple, two-lobed; lobes
mirror-images of each other and roughly papilionaceous; usually
about 9,5 cm long and 11 cm broad (sometimes up to 2x 23cm);
smooth, glossy, hard, thick, marginally entire; larger veins
florets
conspicuous. Flowers: Flower buds covered by brown hairs;
pink,
trumpet-shaped with dark brown calyx and snow-white to
on
crumpled petals; male and female florets borne in clusters
trees; appear between December and February. Fruits:
separate
mature
Large (22 x 7 cm), thick (1,5 cm), flat but undulating pods;
rough, woody, brown; indehiscen t but break
pods hairless, slightly
on the ground; ripen in winter. General: Wood fairly light (air-
up
colour
dry 750 kg/m’), soft, without well-defined heartwood but
from pale brown at the outer edge to dark brown
deepens gradually
medicinal ly highly
in the centre; apparently not generally used;
seeds produce
esteemed: bark contains tannin; pods, roots and
blue or red-brown dye; pods make excellent fodder;
black, dark
baboon; rather slow growing
food source for elephant, kudu and
and probably sensitive to cold.

87
21 2 Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana Sjambok pod
Smallish (6 m), deciduous tree with a spreading, symmetrical,
round to umbrella-shaped, rather sparse crown and a bare, straight,
shortish stem; old stems rough and bark dark brown to black, sub-
divided into broad, prominent, longitudinal ridges. Distribution:
Occurs fairly generally throughout the park; nowhere very
abundant but nevertheless fairly abundant south of Satara, along
the Timbavati River and north of Balule. Leaves: Pinnately
compound with up to 11 pairs of leaflets; up to 30 cm long; leaflets
medium-large (4,5 x 2 cm), oblong, thin, hairless, marginally entire.
Flowers: Solitary, rather large (3 cm in diameter), dark yellow;
borne in masses at the twig terminals; appear before or
simultaneously with the leaves very early in spring (August/
September). Fruits: Pendent, exceptionally long (up to 80 cm),
round, thin (3 cm in diameter) pods; when ripe dark brown, hard,
slightly rough; seeds embedded in a green, sticky substrate; pods
dehisce while on the trees; ripen nearly a year after flowering
(winter/spring). General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 900 kg/m’) and
hard, somewhat coarse in texture; works easily; sapwood light
brown and heartwood dark brown with lighter blotches; living wood
damaged by borers; not used extensively; infusions of bark and
roots used medicinally, e.g. to treat blackwater fever: seldom
utilized by game; most striking tree when in full bloom but
flowering period rather short (4 weeks): slow grower (3 min four
or
five years); sensitive to cold.

88
21 S Peltophorum africanum Weeping wattle
to
Smallish to medium-sized (10 m), deciduous tree with a poorly
low-
wide-spreading, fairly dense, sometimes roundish crown and
branching, bare stem; old bark rough, dark grey brown and
shallowly grooved lengthwise. Distribution: Throughout the park;
no definite preference with regard to soil type but nevertheless
the
bigger and more abundant in the Pretoriuskop vicinity and
. Leaves: Bipinnat ely compou nd (up to 9 pairs of pinnae
Lebombo
leaflets on
and 23 pairs of leaflets per pinna); large (18 x9 cm);
2mm, softly hairy; petiole and rachis very hairy (rusty-
average 7 x
rather
brown); no glands present. Flowers: Flowering period
); florets bright yellow, borne in
extended (November to February
at the twig terminal s; calyx covered by brown hairs.
large clusters
to black, oval, hairy,
Fruits: Pods in pendent clusters; dark brown
first pods ripen in February . General:
thickened in the middle;
od dark brown,
Sapwood off-white and narrow; asymmetric heartwo
s fairly smooth finish; used to
(air-dry about 900 kg/m’); produce
, poundin g blocks, ornamen ts, etc.; suffers
manufacture furniture
roots used medicinally;
damage by insects; infusions of bark and
exuded by cuckoo-
common name refers to large quantities of liquid
(Ptyelus grossus) that drips from the tree while they are
spit insects
on by game limited;
actively feeding on sap from the twigs; utilizati
grows rather fast; fairly cold resistant .

89
21 6 Cordyla africana Wild mango
Specimens in the Kruger Park are medium-sized but a tree next to
the Komati River is about 30 m high with a crown-span of 35 m;
crown wide-spreading, round to slightly flattened: stem long and
bare; old bark rough and peels off in thin, irregular blocks.
Distribution: Confined to the area along the river east of Crocodile
Bridge rest camp. Leaves: Irregularly imparipinnate (maximum of
25 ‘pairs’ of leaflets, although not in pairs); leaflets thin, shiny,
oblong (4,5 x 2 cm), hairless, marginally entire; no glands present.
Flowers: Golden yellow replicas of the flowers of Schotia
brachypetala; thus borne in dense, pendent clusters; appear
September/October. Fruits: Totally atypical pods; drupaceou
s,
golden-yellow, glossy with soft, thin e€xocarp; ovoid (5 x
4cm); one
or two large, two-lobed seeds embedded in a jelly-like
pulp; ripen
after being shed (January/February); edible, not exceedingl
y
palatable; seeds often germinate inside the fruits. General:
Wood
light brown, without heartwood, (air-dry 720 kg/m’);
used as
building material and for manufacturing of drums;
apparently not
utilized by game; twigs and green fruits contain sticky
latex; seeds
must be planted fresh; fast growing; very sensitive
to frost,

90
222 Bolusanthus speciosus Tree Wistaria
tree;
Mostly smallish (7 m— sometimes up to 18 m), deciduous
only; stem
smaller trees slender; the crowns spreading in big trees
up; old
fairly straight, often low branching and never bare high
own and bark longitud inally grooved .
stems dark grey-br
types but in
Distribution: Throughout the park ona variety of soil
only on doleritic soils e.g. Ship
fairly considerable numbers
mountai n, west of Leeupan and at Shitlhav e dam. Leaves:
anda
Imparipinnate leaves composed of eight pairs of leaflets
cm long; leaflets lanceola te, long and narrow
terminal one: + 25
1,5 cm); silvery hairy when young; margins finely, irregularly
(7x
to 20 cm long) at
crenate. Flowers: Borne in pendent clusters (up
s; very attracti ve, bluish- mauve; appear before,
the branch terminal
Septemb er/Octo ber. Fruits:
together with or after the new leaves in
pods oblong (8 x 1 cm), thin but bulge a
Borne in pendent clusters;
black when mature
little over each seed, slightly rough, brown to
resembl es that of wild olive;
(February/March). General: Wood
when fresh (grey-b rown when dry),
sapwood bright yellow
; fairly heavy (air-dry
heartwood brown with light coloured blotches
and attractiv e; well-known
930 kg/m’), hard, tough, durable
also used as fencing posts and firewood; insect
furniture wood;
s; leaves are shed late in
proof; sporadically damaged by elephant
ciduous under irrigatio n,
winter or early spring; semi-de
cold resistant ; fairly fast growing .
exceptionally

91
 i

232 Dalbergia melanoxylon Zebrawood

Small (6 m), deciduous, thorny tree with a Sparse, rather poorly-
spreading, twiggy crown; stems usually low branching, sometimes
screened by lateral branchlets, grooved and dented: old bark
grey,
fairly smooth, peels off in flat, irregular strips; often a multi-
stemmed shrub. Distribution: Throughout the park; trees
found
especially in the southern area at Skukuza/Pretoriuskop;
however,
very dense stands of shrubs found only on basalt and dolerite.
Leaves: Imparipinnate with a maximum of six pairs of
leaflets plus a
terminal one; up to 9 cm long; leaflets up to 2,3x 1,4 cm,
obovate,
hairless, emarginate at the apices. Flowers: Very small,
white,
fragrant; borne in clusters at twig terminals; usually appear
October/November but sometimes in September
or as late as
December. Fruits: Pods, in pendent clusters. small
($x1;3:cm),
oblong, flat, very thin, pergamentaceous. hairless,
slightly rough,
grey-brown to black; persist on the trees for a long
time,
indehiscent; ripen from April onwards. General:
Sapwood narrow,
dirty to bright yellow and heartwood pitch black,
sometimes with
dark brown striations; hence the common name;
very hard, finely
textured, heavy (air-dry 1 280 kg/m‘); exceptionally
durable,
produces a beautiful and smooth product; logs
mostly hollow
because ofinsect damage, also dented and fluted
on the outside;
suitable for ornamental work: elephants relish
the roots; leaves
utilized by various browsers: grows extremely
slowly; not cold
resistant.

92
236 Pterocarpus angolensis Transvaal teak

Very handsome, medium-large (15 m), deciduous tree with a wide-

spreading, flattened, fairly dense crown and an exceptionally long,
bare, straight stem and angularly bent branches; old stems dark
grey to black; bark rough, sub-divided into irregular blocks
arranged in more or less vertical rows. Distribution: Its distribution
in the park, namely the Pretoriuskop area, a limited area between
Skukuza and Crocodile Bridge and another between Skukuza and
Orpen, and the Punda Maria vicinity, points to the fact that the
species prefers deep, sandy soil. Leaves: Imparipinnate (up to 16
pairs of leaflets plus a terminal one), pendent, very long (up to 30
cm); leaflets elliptic with twisted apices, up to 6x 4,5 cm, marginally
entire, hairless above and finely hairy underneath; petioles covered
by light brown hairs. Flowers: Florets borne in small clusters and
almost exclusively on second-year growth; golden yellow, fragrant,
up to 1,7 cm long; appear before or together with the new leaves in
the
September/October. Fruits: Pods — only recognizable as such in
and
early stage; pendent, borne in clusters, suborbicular, thickened
spiny in the middle with a thin, stiff, undulating, pergamentaceous
wing around; up to 10 cm in diameter; persist on the trees until
following flowering season; indehiscent; ripen in late summer.
General: Well-known furniture wood; fairly light (air-dry
656 kg/m’); sapwood off-white, heartwood brown with lighter
coloured blotches (elsewhere light brown to red or even copper-
well;
brown); heartwood durable; works easily and polishes
d bark exudes large quantiti es of blood-r ed gum which
damage
substanc es; leaves eaten by
contains a dye and various other organic
push over and utilize the trees; grows from seeds
kudu; elephants
and cuttings; slow grower; probably not cold resistant.
93
230. 1 Pterocarpus lucens subsp. antunesii Thorny teak
Local trees multi-stemmed; about 10m high; gradually spreads
towards the top; branch terminals slightly pendent; deciduous: old
stems fluted and grooved; bark buff-grey to grey-green,
exceptionally smooth, peels off sporadically in small, flat blocks.
Distribution: Confined to the Nwambiya sandveld immediately
south of Pafuri next to the Mozambique border; only a few known
trees. Leaves: Imparipinnate (up to three pairs of leaflets anda
terminal one); up to 10 cm long; leaflets oblong/elliptic, fairly small
(4,5 x 2cm), shiny, marginally entire, conspicuously undulating;
sometimes small, black organs (glands?) on the rachis. Flowers:
Florets fairly small, bright yellow; borne in clusters on the basal
part
of new growth; appear before or simultaneously with the new
leaves
in November/December. Fruits: Pods roughly oval; central
portion
thickened, rock-hard, red-brown: outer part a relatively
wide, light
brown, thin, undulating wing; up to 4,5 x 2,5 cm; indehiscen
t and
persist on the trees until the next spring; ripen late in
autumn.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 040 kg/m’), without
heartwood.
exceptionally hard; very finely grained; light brown;
insect damage
limited; difficult to work with but end product very smooth;
uses
unknown; in neighbouring states damaged by
elephants.

94
2o/ Pterocarpus rotundifolius subsp. rotundifolius
Round-leaved teak

Locally mostly multi-stemmed plants, some of which reach tree

size; may become a large (15 m) tree with a wide-spreading,
relatively sparse crown and a long, bare stem branching high up; old
stems light grey to grey-brown; bark cracks more or less
longitudinally and peels off in irregular, flat strips. Distribution:
Everywhere in the park with the exception of the Lebombo flats
and the Pafuri area (basalt) as well as the sandveld regions,
particularly parts of the Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria areas, also
Nwambiya. Leaves: Imparipinnately compound (two or three pairs
of leaflets and a terminal one); up to 25 cm long; leaflets elliptic to
round, large, marginally entire, exceptionally shiny. Flowers:
Conspicuous, attractive, large, much-branched, yellow clusters of
flowers borne terminally on the twigs; normally appear
November/December (sometimes as late as February) and only
after good rains; the same tree sometimes flowers up to three times
in one season. Fruits: Pods in pendent clusters; elliptic to
suborbicuiar (up to 6 x 3,5 cm), flat, exceptionally twisted,
undulating, slightly rough; the central, thickened, stone-hard
portion surrounded by a thin, hard wing; initially yellow-green,
later the central part turns dark brown and the wing light brown;
in
persist on the trees for a long time; indehiscent; first ones ripen
Wood fairly light (air-dry 850
the late summer or autumn. General:
heartwood, yellow; of rather inferior quality;
kg/m’), soft, without
of
unpleasant odour when freshly sawn; used for manufacturing
household articles; browsers utilize the species, especially
elephants; slow growing; probably sensitive to cold; very decorative
plant.
95
238 Lonchocarpus capassa Apple-leaf
Large (18 m), deciduous to semi-deciduous tree with a very wide-
spreading, sparse to fairly dense, formless crown and rather long,
bare, crooked, fluted, twisted stems and branches: old stems light
grey; old bark fairly smooth but breaks up into small, flat blocks
which peel off. Distribution: Found on all soil types in the park;
biggest specimens confined to the flood plains as well as the banks
of rivers and spruits; elsewhere usually a small, stunted tree or
shrub; beautiful specimens in Letaba rest camp. Leaves:
Compounded of three leaflets (one lateral pair and a terminal one),
seldom five; terminal leaflets biggest (up to 18 x 9 cm); leaflets very
hard, marginally entire, brittle, oblong or elliptic, mostly buff-
green, hairless and rough on upper surface, tomentose underneath.
Flowers: Borne in large (15 cm long), dense, pendent clusters at the
twig terminals; pale mauve; appear with, or slightly later than, the
new leaves. Fruits: Pods borne in pendent clusters: oblong (12
x 2,5
cm) flat, thickened over the seeds, edged by a conspicuous ridge,
covered by a tomentose layer; initially buff-green and light brown
when ripe; persist on the trees for a long time; indehiscent;
reach
maturity during late summer. General: Wood yellowish, without
heartwood, finely textured; hard, fairly heavy (air-dry 770
kg/m’);
works easily and produces a smooth finish: used to manufacture
pounding blocks; damaged by insects; leaves only fall in spring
and
within a very short period of time; leaves eaten by browsers,
especially elephant; slow grower; not cold resistant.

96
240 Xeroderris stuhlmannii Wing bean (= Ostryoderris
stuhlmannii.)

Medium-large (10 m), deciduous tree; crown half-spreading, fairly

sparse, formless to round; stem long, bare, sometimes low-
branching; bark on old stems grey and peels off in flat, irregular
blocks. Distribution: Only in the Nwambiya sandveld, near
Dzundwini hill (Punda Maria vicinity) and sandveld between the
Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers. Leaves: Imparipinnately compound
(eight pairs of leaflets and a terminal one); up to 37 cm long; leaflets
suborbicular to oblong, up to 8 x 4,5 cm, shiny, dark green,
marginally entire. Flowers: Snow-white, waxy florets borne in
conspicuous, but sparse clusters; peduncles brown and hairy;
appear October to December before the new leaves. Fruits: Pods
borne in large, pendent clusters; oblong, up to 30 x 3,5 cm, taper
towards both ends; central portion thickened; thin, narrow ‘wing’
surrounds the thickened portion; ripen April/May, sometimes later.
General: Wood medium-heavy and hard, light yellow; finely
textured; produces a smooth finish; uses unknown; due to insect
damage some pods develop into round (1,5 cm in diameter),
seedless, false fruits; the tree is the host of a unique mistletoe
species (Vanwykia remota), named after the author, which is very
seldom found on other tree species; leaves seldom eaten by
browsers; grows rather slowly; probably not cold resistant.

97
24 1 Xanthocercis zambesiaca Nyala tree
Exceptionally large (up to 30 m), impressive, evergreen to semi-
deciduous tree with an enormous, very dense crown and pendent
branch terminals; seldom multi-stemmed; stems mostly rather
short; old stems deeply fluted and dented, dark grey, rough; bark
does not peel off; stems often screened by side-shoots. Distribution:
Mainly confined to the alluvial soils next to rivers and spruits; with
the exception of Pafuri, fairly rare. Leaves: Imparipinnately
compound (up to seven pairs of leaflets plus a terminal one); up to
12 cm long; leaflets (biggest 5,5 x 2,0 cm) dark green, shiny,
marginally entire, elliptic to lanceolate; petioles hairy. Flowers:
Small, white or cream coloured; borne in terminal clusters;
fragrant; appear November/December. Fruits: Young fruits pod-
shaped, mature ones ovoid drupes of 2,5 x 2 cm; dark brown, glossy
seeds, shaped like two beans joined together, are enclosed bya
white, sticky, somewhat floury pulp and a thin, smooth, shiny
exocarp; yellow-brown when ripe, in autumn or winter: edible but
not really palatable. General: Wood hard, heavy (air-dry
1 000 kg/m’), finely grained; sapwood off-white and heartwood pale
buff-brown; works easily and produces a smooth finish; fruits eaten
by birds and various other game species; lowest branches usually
leafless due to browsing by kudu, impala, bushbuck, etc.; grows
very slowly; fairly cold resistant.

98
244 Erythrina latissima Broad-leaved coral tree
Smallish (7 m), deciduous tree with a relatively long, bare stem and
a spreading, round, sometimes slightly flattened, fairly dense
crown; old stems grey with yellow or red-brown tinge; old bark
longitudinally grooved, sometimes deeply, and ridges cracked
crosswise. Distribution: Confined to the koppies and ridges in the
Pretoriuskop/Malelane regions. Leaves: Trifoliate (lateral pair plus
a terminal leaflet); terminal leaflet always bigger than the others
(up to 25 cm long and 32 cm broad) and more or less round; other
leaflets up to about 22 x 24 cm, asymmetrical, broadly ovate; young
leaflets softly hairy and mature ones hairless; margins entire or
widely and irregularly sinuate; very small hook thorns often present
on the midrib (upper surface) as well as petiole. Flowers: Florets
pink in the bud and blood-red when open, florets packed into large,
dense, terminal racemes; appear long before the leaves, from July
to September; not as attractive or striking as flowers of other coral
trees. Fruits: Large pods (up to 20 x 3 cm); curved and twisted,
deeply segmented between seeds, woolly hairy only when young;
old pods smooth, hard and brownish-black; seeds orange to red
with a black line, up to 1,5 x 1 cm; ripen in March/April; dehisce
twig
while still on the trees. Thorns: The exceptionally thick, woolly
thorns.
terminals armed with short, brown, scattered, solitary hook
(air-
General: Wood off-white, without heartwood, soft, very light
320 kg/m’), coarsely grained, useless. Seeds of all the Erythrina
dry
species investigated (50 out of 105) contained a muscle-
seeds
immobilizing substance similar to that in curare; grows from
as well as cuttings; slow growing; sensitive to cold.

99
245 Erythrina lysistemon Common coral tree
Medium-sized (up to 12 m), deciduous tree with spreading,
roundish, fairly sparse crown and mostly a low-branching stem; old
bark mostly smooth, irregularly and shallow ly grooved lengthwise;
sometimes peels off in small blocks. Distribution: Only on the
koppies in the south of the park - Pretoriuskop/Malelane — and the
sandstone ridges at Punda Maria; planted in some rest camps.
Leaves: Trifoliate (one lateral pair and a terminal leaflet): terminal
one the biggest (up to 12,5 x 8 cm), broadest in the middle and
tapers to an attenuate apex; lateral pair nearly similar in shape but
smaller (9,5 x 8 cm); all three leaflets glossy, hairless, thin,
marginally entire; very often find numerous yellowy-green
galls
caused by insects. Flowers: Blood-red flowers in compact,
terminal
clusters; most important part is a single, large (up to 6
cm long)
folded petal; even calyx red: flowers appear August/September
,
betore the new leaves; tend to be semi-deciduous in
gardens,
therefore not as spectacular during the flowering season.
Fruits:
Pendent pods in clusters: oblong, long and thin (up to
21 x 1,1 em),
conspicuously segmented, brownish-black when mature;
seeds
small (8 x 6 mm), orange to red with a black Spot adjacent
to the
micropyle; ripen in midsummer: pods dehisce while
still on the
trees; persistent. Thorns: Occur on younger branchlets
only;
brown, hooked spines, irregularly spaced but close
together.
General: Wood without heartwood. yellowish to off-white,
very soft
and light, coarsely grained: necklaces are manutactured
from the
seeds which are poisonous (see E. /atissima): grows
easily from
seeds and cuttings (branches too): fairly fast growing;
sensitive to
cold.

100
21S) Balanites maughamii Green thorn

Large (up to 20 m); deciduous to semi-deciduous; crown fairly

sparse, spreading, roundish (slender in case of young trees); stem
long, straight, usually branching high however, when branching
low, branches remain close together up to a considerable height; old
stems always deeply fluted lengthwise; bark rough, longitudinally
sub-divided into ridges cracking cross-wise; dark grey. Distribution:
Throughout the park on sand and granitic soils but rare; biggest
specimens at Skukuza and along the Sabie River. Leaves:
Compound with two leaflets; those on flowering twigs smaller
(6x 5,5 cm) than others (8 x 7 cm); asymmetrically oblong/elliptic
to suborbicular; finely hairy when young but later only partially;
marginally entire; green to buff-green; petioles usually hairy.
Flowers: Very small, mainly green, borne in compressed cymes in
the leaf axils; peduncles and flowers (outside) covered with a
tomentose layer; borne August/September (sometimes much later)
and not every year. Fruits: Oblong drupes; up to 3,5x 2,2 cm, light
brown, hairy; basal part longitudinally grooved; exocarp thin; fruit
pulp spongy and sticky; stone woody; ripen from May to July.
thorns
Thorns: On fruit-bearing branchlets only short, thin, straight
but those on sterile branchlets very prominent, hard and forked;
with
initially green with brown tips, later grey-brown, sometimes
mostly two but sometimes three-pron ged; up to
orangy blotches;
7. cm long. General: Wood predominantly yellow, without
heartwood, very heavy, hard, finely grained, produces a smooth
finish; durable; fruits eaten by a variety of animals such as baboon
very
and impala; leaves also utilized by elephant, giraffe; grows
slowly, probably sensitive to cold.

101
252 Balanites pedicellaris Small green thorn
Usually a multi-stemmed, untidy, deciduous shrub and seldom a
small tree (up to 6 m high); trees have bare, shortish stems and
sparse, spreading crowns; bark resembles that of tamboti, breaks up
into boat-shaped blocks; old stems grooved lengthwise.
Distribution: Very rare; thus far only been found on low-lying,
brackish flats along the Sabie River and north-east of Punda Maria
(Madzaringwe in Nyalaland trail area). Leaves: Compound with
two leaflets; leaflets spatulate to obcordate, fairly small (up to 3 x
2,5 cm), emarginate at the apices, light to buff-green, marginally
entire; softly hairy when young but later inconspicuously so.
Flowers: Florets borne on new growth near the twig terminals; three
florets per inflorescence (seldom more); florets yellow-green, 1 cm
in diameter, inconspicuous; borne December/January or earlier but
during times of drought as late as May/June, after good rains.
Fruits: Young fruits hairy, light green, ovoid; mature fruits
spherical, flattened at the base and top, orange, hairless, smooth
and glossy; up to 2,5 x 2 cm; fruit pulp layer thin; stone large, hard
and woody; ripe fruits and flowers have on one occasion been
found
on the same tree in early winter. Thorns: Firm, hard, rough,
long,
sharp, hairy, pale green, undivided and solitary. General: Wood
hard and heavy (air-dry 1 070 kg/m’); undifferentiated, pale
yellow-
brown, finely grained, produces a smooth finish and takes
a high
polish; uses and utilization unknown: probably slow growing
and
sensitive to cold conditions.

102
253 Zanthoxylum capensis Small knobwood
(= Fagara capensis)
Often multi-stemmed shrub with long, pliable, ascending shoots;
sometimes a small tree (8 m) with a long, bare, crooked stem and a
formless, sparse crown; deciduous; stems dark grey; bark smooth
and does not peel off. Distribution: Mostly in dense thickets but
adapted to widely divergent ecological conditions; thus far found
only in Pretoriuskop area and Punda Maria sandveld. Leaves:
Closely packed near the twig terminals; imparipinnately compound
(up to eight pairs of leaflets and a terminal one); up to 11 cm long,
mostly shorter; leaflets roughly elliptic with two small ‘ears’ at the
base; up to 4 x 2 cm; margins finely crenate with many small glands
in the indentations; petiole very rarely with small hook thorns on
under side. Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow; borne in dense clusters
at the branch terminals; sometimes small thorns on central axis;
male and female florets on separate trees; appear October/
in
November. Fruits: Borne in dense, pendent clusters; up to 5 mm
diameter, round, orange to red, stippled with minute glands and
two
each has a clearly perceptible little groove; pericarp splits in
while fruits are still on the trees; seeds pitch-black; globose and
young
shiny; ripen between March and July. Thorns: Thorns on
and sharp; on older stems
branchlets straight, short (1 cm), round
to 3 cm long.
the thorns are on top of small, cork-like cones up
slightly
General: Wood dirty yellow with conspicuous annual rings,
hard, heavy (air-dry + 950 kg/m’);
darker in the central area; fairly
leaves
crushed leaves and fruits have a strong orange scent;
sporadically eaten by browsers; grows slowly; cold resistance
unknown.

103
256 Calodendrum capense Cape chestnut
Small to medium-sized (up to 15 m), deciduous to semi-decidyous
tree with a bare, fairly straight, smooth stem anda spreading, fairly
sparse crown; bark light grey to light brown with pale blotches; does
not peel off. Distribution: Only in a single ravine in the Malelane
mountains; a few trees have been planted at Pretoriuskop rest camp
and Numbi gate. Leaves: Borne in opposite pairs; simple, oval,
some reach 20 x 10 cm, but most are smaller; dark green, glossy,
marginally entire, fairly thick; many small oil glands in the blade
can be seen as translucent dots when held to the light; smells like
lemons. Flowers: Borne in large, conspicuous, terminal clusters;
petals long, narrow; range from almost white to pale red or pale
mauve; sterile stamens (five) pale red with purplish dots (glands);
appear during summer. Fruits: Hard, woody, roundish, five-lobed
capsules, about 4 cm in diameter, brown, covered with wart-like
protruberances; seeds black, smooth, angular, ripen in late summer
and autumn. General: Wood white or pale yellow, hard, medium-
heavy, tough, suitable for manufacturing of furniture and
other
household articles; very rare in the park and therefore probably
not
utilized by game species; grows fairly fast; not cold resistant;
outstanding ornamental and/or shade tree.

104
260 Vepris reflexa Bushveld white ironwood

Small (up to 8 m high), evergreen, upright, slender tree with a

poorly spreading, sparse crown; stem short, bare; often multi-
stemmed; old bark grey, smooth but feels slightly rough because of
small protuberances or fine, vertical cracks. Distribution:
Throughout the park; mostly on koppies and ridges; prefers
sheltered areas such as thickets in ravines, particularly the Malelane
mountains; a few small trees in the Orpen Dam area. Leaves:
Palmately compound with three leaflets; leaflets narrowly elliptic
with long, thin and twisted apices; marginally entire, glabrous,
slightly rough with many, scattered, transparent glands. Flowers:
Small, pale yellow-green, unisexual (two sexes borne of separate
trees), in small clusters in the leaf axils near the twig terminals;
flower buds usually already present in autumn but remain dormant
until the first good spring rains with final development taking place
rapidly, normally October/November; flowering time varies
tremendously, depending on the rainfall. Fruits: Drupaceous and
borne in clusters; ovoid (up to 1,5 x 1 cm), shiny, black when ripe;
stalks implanted asymmetrically; fleshy fruit pulp thin; one-seeded;
mostly ripe in midsummer. General: Wood fairly hard, heavy (air-
dry 930 kg/m’), sapwood white and wide and heartwood buff-
brown; finely grained; finished product very smooth; leaves eaten
by elephants and fruits by birds; probably very slow growing and
low cold resistance.

105
 ls
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a

267 Kirkia acuminata White seringa

Deciduous (leaves turn bright yellow to red/red-brown in autumn),
medium-large (20 m) tree with a wide-spreading, mostly fairly flat-
topped, rather sparse crown and a long, straight, bare stem; old
bark pale grey, breaks up into small blocks which peel off.
Distribution: Lebombo mountain range from near the Crocodile
River to Pafuri; also on koppies in the western half of the park from
Roodewal camp northwards; especially abundant near Olifants rest
camp and at Pafuri. Leaves: Imparipinnately compound with a
maximum of 21 leaflets (one terminal and the rest roughly in pairs);
up to 40 cm long; leaflets lanceolate to narrowly ovate, up to 8,3 x
2,9 cm; margins prominently serrate; petioles red to red-brown.
Flowers: Small, white; borne in sparse clusters (up to 20 cm long) on
long peduncles, terminal to the twigs; male and female florets in the
same inflorescence; appear with the new leaves between October
and December. Fruits: Small, oblong (1,5 x 0,5 cm) capsules in
clusters; hard, four-cornered, glabrous, brownish-black: split along
the corners into four parts; persist long after leaves have fallen;
ripen April/May. General: Wood fairly light (air-dry 640 kg/m’) and
soft; sapwood wide, off-white, heartwood buff-brown; finely
textured; rather difficult to work with; polishes well; not durable
nor insect proof; used to some extent for production of furniture;
few medicinal uses; sparsely utilized by game; grows from seeds and
cuttings and fairly fast; sensitive to frost; exceptionally handsome in
autumn foliage.

106
269 Kirkia wilmsii Mountain seringa
Deciduous (leaves turn yellow to dark red-brown), smallish (up to
10 m), mostly multi-stemmed or low-branching tree; crown
roundish to formless; some branches near or on the ground; old
stems light to dark grey, smooth with small, irregular sections of
dead bark here and there. Distribution: Mainly confined to the
Malelane mountains in the Berg-en-dal vicinity; few trees south of
the Olifants River near the western boundary. Leaves:
Imparipinnately compound with a large number of leaflets (up to 23
‘pairs’ plus a terminal one); up to 16 cm long; closely packed at the
twig terminals; leaflets oblong, biggest 2,5 x 0,5 cm, mostly
asymmetrical at the bases, margins inconspicuously dentate;
terminal leaflets broadly elliptic and margins distinctly dentate;
petioles initially red-brown but later only near the bases. Flowers:
Masses of small, yellow-green florets borne in dense clusters (up to
22 cm long); pedicels and floral axes conspicuously red-brown;
borne September/October. Fruits: Small (1,1 x 0,6 cm), composed
of four adnate, triangular drupes, four-cornered; split along the
corners when ripe and the four sections curve away from each
other; persist on the trees long after ripening; reach maturity in
February/March. General: Wood off-white to light brown, without
heartwood, fairly light (air-dry 575 kg/m’), soft; works easily and
produces a smooth finish; apparently useless, cordage plaited from
the inner-bark; utilization by game rather limited but elephants
seem to cherish it; grows from seed and cuttings; fairly cold
resistant; most beautiful tree in autumn.

107
275 Commiphora edulis Rough-leaved corkwood
Small (6 m), deciduous tree with a very sparse, spreading crown and
a short, bare, crooked stem, sometimes multi-stemmed; thinner
branches long, lax, poorly branched and pendent; old stems
relatively smooth, white to buff-white (sunny side) and very dark
(shade); bark peels off here and there in flat, black, thickish strips
or blocks. Distribution: Confined to the extreme north ofthe park,
especially Pafuri where it is fairly abundant. Leaves:
Imparipinnately compound (one to four pairs of leaflets anda
terminal one); borne close together at the branch terminals; leaflets
elliptic/ovate (lateral leaflets) to obovate (terminal one), up to
7x 3,5 cm, thin, glossy, rough, conspicuously pubescent (both
surfaces), marginally entire, sometimes finely dentate near the
apex; petiole and rachis red-brown in patches. Flowers: Small,
yellow-green, tubiform-campanulate; borne in long (up to 17 cm)
inflorescences; male and female florets very similar but borne on
separate trees; flowering time influenced by rain, any time between
October and February. Fruits: Biggest of the local Commiphora
species (2 x 2,5 cm); usually in pairs; slightly oblong, flattened,
symmetrical, pubescent, nearly transparent when young, dark red
when ripe; fleshy part separates into two halves when ripe; seed
about 1,5 x 1 cm, black when mature: pseudo-aril blood-red,
smooth, fleshy, covers about one-third of the seed, terminates in
four short ‘fingers’. General: Wood light (air-dry 510 kg/m’), soft,
off-white, without heartwood; coarsely grained; damaged
by
insects; fruits edible but sour, eaten by primates; leaves sporadicall
y
utilized by elephants; grows from seeds and cuttings; grows quite
quickly; sensitive to cold.

108
O17 Commiphora harveyi Red-stem corkwood

Smallish (9 m), deciduous tree with a relatively dense, spreading,

roundish crown and a long, bare, slightly crooked stem; bark on old
trees yellow-brown, light brown or dark brown, peels off in fairly
large, irregular, paper-thin flakes; sometimes thicker and dark grey
patches; living bark dark green. Distribution: Only on the koppies
and ridges in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area (granite and dolerite)
and Muntshe hill north of Lower Sabie rest camp. Leaves:
Imparipinnately compound (up to three pairs of leaflets plus a
terminal one); up to 17 cm long; pendent, only on new growth;
leaflets elliptic to broadly oblong (up to 7 x 2,5 cm), very thin, soft,
glabrous, dark green, glossy; margins serrate; young petioles red-
brown. Flowers: Small (3,5 cm long); tubiform-campanulate, pale
yellow; borne in long clusters in leaf axils; male and female florets
on separate trees; appear October/November. Fruits: Globose to
ovoid, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, set obliquely, i.e. asymmetrically
on the stalks; glabrous, shiny, red when ripe; fleshy part splits
longitudinally into two parts when ripe; stone fairly flat, black,
suborbicular (up to 9 mm in diameter); pseudo-aril blood-red,
shiny, smooth, cups basal half of the stone, terminates in four
‘fingers’. General: Wood extremely soft and light (air-dry
320 kg/m’), off-white, without heartwood, coarsely grained;
apparently useless; utilization by game limited, grown from seeds
and cuttings; seems to be rather fast growing; sensitive to frost.

109
278 Commiphora marlothii Paperbark corkwood
Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with a sparsely branched, spreading,
roundish crown and a relatively long, bare, slightly bent stem; bark
commences peeling off in large chartaceous strips and flakes on
second-year growth; bark on old stems dirty-white to yellow and the
living bark bright yellow-green. Distribution: Only on the sandstone
ridges (rock-faces and edges) near the Luvuvhu River. Leaves:
Imparipinnately compound (up to four pairs of leaflets plus a
terminal one); up to 22 cm long; borne at the twig terminals; leaflets
oblong/elliptic, up to 8 x 4 cm, very soft, both surfaces
conspicuously pubescent, margins distinctly crenate; petiole and
rachis exceptionally pubescent. Flowers: Small (up to 3,5 mm long),
pale yellow-green, tubiform-campanulate; borne in very small,
dense clusters on long, pubescent stalks (8 cm); male and female
florets on separate trees; appear immediately prior to, or with the
new leaves (October/November). Fruits: Borne in dense, pendent
clusters; slightly ovoid (1,5 x 1,2 cm), longitudinally sub-divided by
a shallow groove, glabrous; tuberculate, glossy, red when ripe; stalk
attached symmetrically; fleshy part divides into two equal parts
when ripe (March/April); pseudo-aril blood-red. General: Wood
light (air-dry 480 kg/m’), soft, off-white to light brown (centre),
without heartwood, works easily and produces a fairly smooth
finish, apparently useless; due to inaccessibility utilization by
game
very limited; grown from seeds and cuttings; grows fairly fast;
probably not frost resistant.

110
279 Commiphora merkeri Zebra-bark corkwood
Smallish (9 m), deciduous tree; crown slender and poorly spreading
in thickets but otherwise spreading, round, fairly dense,
exceptionally twiggy; stems round, bare, straight and relatively
long; always single-stemmed; bark of old trees yellow-brown to
yellow-white, peels off horizontally in thin, narrow, fibrous strips;
hard, rough, dark grey, tuberculate, transverse growths in the bark
give stems a ringed appearance. Distribution: Very seldom seen,
although abundant in certain areas, confined to the area north and
north-east of Punda Maria on basaltic soils. Leaves: Simple, mostly
in rosettes at twig terminals; obovate, up to 4x 2,5 cm, blue-green,
glabrous, fairly thick, soft; upper third of margins serrate. Flowers:
Pale yellow, tubiform-campanulate; borne in small groups at the
twig terminals, i.e. middle of the leaf rosette; two sexes on separate
trees; borne November/December. Fruits: Fruits sessile, oblong
(1 x 0,6 cm) tapering in long, thin points, slightly flattened on the
sides, asymmetric, that is more convex on one side, smooth, dull
and red when ripe; fleshy part divides into two when ripe; stone
black, 8x 5mm; the blood-red pseudo-aril has two long and two
short ‘fingers’; ripen late summer. General: Wood soft, light (air-
dry 430 kg/m’), dirty white, without heartwood, coarsely grained,
exudes gum when damaged; useless; utilization of the plant by game
rather limited; fruits eaten by birds and primates; gum used for
treatment of skin diseases; grown from seeds and cuttings; probably
not cold resistant.

111
280 Commiphora mollis Velvet corkwood
Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with a round, spreading, twiggy
crown and pendent branch terminals and a short, bare, straight
stem; old stems often dented, shiny and smooth to rough, with
peeling bark; old bark white (sunny side) to dark leaden-grey or
grey-brown; peels off in irregular, roundish blocks. Distribution:
Throughout the park except at Pafuri, rare to very rare. Leaves:
Imparipinnately compound (up to four pairs of leaflets plus a
terminal one); up to 15 cm long; borne close together at twig
terminals or far apart on long, new shoots; leaflets elliptic/oblong,
up to 6x 3 cm— mostly smaller, thin, soft, greyish-green, finely
pubescent; petioles pubescent. Flowers: Very small, unisexual,
tubiform-campanulate, dark wine-red with bright, yellow anthers;
borne in dense clusters in leaf axils; male and female florets on
separate trees; normally appear September/October. Fruits: Mostly
one (sometimes two) fruit per inflorescence; slightly ovoid
(1,5 x 1,3 cm), set obliquely on exceptionally thick, hairy stalks;
longitudinally divided by a thin line; covered by fine hairs; pale red
when ripe; fleshy part divides into two halves when ripe; stone
black, smooth, flat on one side and convex on the other, about
1,1 x 1,0 cm; pseudo-aril red, only covers a small part of the stone,
terminates in two long and two short ‘fingers’. General: Wood light
(air-dry 460 kg/m’), soft, dirty-white, without heartwood, produces
fairly smooth finish; apparently not used in any way; seldom utilized
by browsing animals; grows from seeds as well as cuttings; probably
fairly fast growing; not cold resistant.

112
283 Commiphora neglecta Sweet-root corkwood
Small (6 m), deciduous tree; crown twiggy, formless to slightly
round; mostly more than one short, crooked stem; branches low
down; old stems appear to be succulent-like; lateral twigs terminate
in sharp, spiniform tips; bark peels off in paper-thin, yellowish
flakes resulting in a ragged appearance; living bark dark green.
Distribution: Mostly on rocky or poorly weathered granitic soils
south of the Olifants River; usually associated with thickets; some
examples can be seen next to the Lower Sabie road east of Mkuhlu
picnic spot. Leaves: Trifoliate (one pair of leaflets and a terminal
one); borne at the terminals of short, lateral twigs or on ‘thorns’,
lateral leaflets suborbicular to elliptic; terminal one up to 4,3 x 2,7
cm, obovate; all three shiny, glabrous, soft and thin; upper third to
two-thirds of margins serrate. Flowers: Small, pale yellow,
tubiform-campanulate; borne in small groups amongst the leaves;
female and bisexual flowers on separate trees; appear
September/October, sometimes much later. Fruits: Nearly sessile,
smooth, glabrous, glossy, subglobose (1,5 cm in diameter), slightly
flattened on the sides; longitudinal line conspicuous; blood-red
when ripe; fleshy part divides into two when ripe; stone black,
mostly subglobose (9 mm in diameter); pseudo-aril red, covers
roughly one-quarter of the stone, four smooth ‘fingers’ stretching
almost to the top of the stone, of about equal length.
General: Wood very light (air-dry 380 kg/m’), soft, dirty white,
without heartwood, coarsely grained, easy to work with; not insect
proof; useless; utilization by game very limited; grows from seeds
and cuttings; fairly fast growing; probably not cold resistant.

113
285 ; 1 Commiphora glandulosa Tall common corkwood
Small (up to 6 m); deciduous tree; crown relatively dense, roughly
round, twiggy with pendent branchlets; stem fairly short, rather
thick, straight, often screened by lateral branchlets; short, lateral
twigs terminate in grey-brown thorns; stem dark grey, yellowy-grey,
or grey-green; bark usually peels off in small, paper-thin, yellow
flakes or large, curled sections, sometimes as small, dark grey
blocks. Distribution: Enjoys a wide north/south distribution on
basalt and rhyolite (Lebombo) on the eastern side of the park;
abundant in the Balule and Pafuri regions. Leaves: Usually in dense
groups at twig terminals, on short lateral twigs or on the thorns;
mostly simple but sometimes compound with three leaflets:
terminal leaflet roughly ovate (3,8 x 2,5 cm), sessile, smooth, shiny,
dark grey-green, margins conspicuously serrate in upper two-thirds;
sometimes small glands present in the blade near the base. Flowers:
Small, red, tubiform-campanulate, sessile, in small groups on short,
lateral twigs or small protruberances; female and bisexual florets
borne on separate trees; normally appear in September/October.
Fruits: Slightly asymmetrical, subglobose, obtusely apiculate,
smooth, up to 1,3 x 1,0.cm; bright red when ripe; fleshy part breaks
up into two asymmetrical sections when ripe; stone rough, covered
by small tubercles, and black, one side flat and the other convex:
red pseudo-aril covers small part of stone at the base only; ‘fingers’
(4) nearly encompass the stone; ripen from February to April.
General: Wood very soft, light (air-dry 400 kg/m’), coarsely
grained, dirty white, without heartwood; grows rather fast from
seeds and cuttings; probably fairly cold resistant.

114
28/7 Commiphora schimperi Glossy-leaved corkwood

Small (5 m), deciduous tree with a short, straight stem, often with
lateral branchlets; crown twiggy, poorly spreading, sparse and
round with pendent branchlets; lateral twigs terminate in thorn-like
tips; old stems grey-green to brown-green; bark peels off in paper-
thin, grey-yellow flakes but sometimes hardens and then peels off in
small, irregular blue-grey blocks; living bark bright green.
Distribution: Fairly rare; on granite south of Sabie River as well as
basalt flats in vicinity of Satara and Punda Maria. Leaves: Trifoliate
(one pair of leaflets and a terminal one); mostly borne in dense
groups at terminals of lateral twigs and ‘thorns’; terminal leaflets
obovate, up to 3 x 1,6 cm; lateral leaflets smaller; all leaflets sessile,
glabrous, soft, thin, glossy. Flowers: Very small, tubiform-
campanulate, probably bisexual, borne in small groups at the
terminals of lateral twigs or on the thorns; calyx tube dark wine-red;
petals initially yellow but later red as well; florets appear before the
leaves, in August/September. Fruits: Drupes with short stalks;
ellipsoid to subglobose, asymmetrical, 1,6 x 1 cm, glabrous, glossy,
red when ripe; longitudinal line conspicuous; fleshy part splits into
two at maturity; stone black, slightly oblong (1,1 x 0,8 cm), flat on
the one side and convex on the other; blood-red, nodular pseudo-
aril encloses the stone almost completely; ripen from February to
April. General: Wood very soft (air-dry 460 kg/m’), off-white,
without heartwood; coarsely grained; grows from seeds and
cuttings; slow grower; probably not cold resistant.

115
289 Commiphora tenuipetiolata White-stem corkwood

Smallish (10 m), deciduous tree, crown spreading, formless to

roundish or even slightly flat-topped; stem mostly straight, round,
branching relatively high up; older branches and stems
exceptionally smooth and white to grey-green or yellow-green; bark
usually peels off in paper-thin flakes; green, living bark covered by
a yellowish-white powdery layer. Distribution: Confined to the
ridges south of Pafuri next to the Mozambique border and the
Lebombo where the Shingwedzi and the Olifants rivers cut through
the mountain. Leaves: Imparipinnately compound (two or three
pairs and a terminal leaflet); mostly borne closely packed at twig
terminals; terminal leaflet bigger (3,5 x 2 cm) than lateral ones (2 x
1,3 cm); all leaflets elliptic to obovate; very thin, soft, glabrous;
buff-green, covered by a powdery layer; upper half to two-thirds of
margins conspicuously serrate; petiole and rachis red-brown.
Flowers: Small, unisexual, greenish-yellow, tubiform-campanulate;
two sexes borne on separate trees; only one or two female florets
per inflorescence but male florets considerably more; appear
before, or with the new leaves, about November/December. Fruits:
Usually one drupe per inflorescence; set on fairly long stalk (3 cm);
pendent, globose but compressed at the apex, up to1,5x 1,4 cm;
glabrous, glossy; bright red when ripe (April/May); stone flat,
nearly cordate, slightly bulging on broad facets, about 1,1x 0,9 cm.
smooth, purplish-brown to black; blood-red pseudo-aril cups about
half the stone, its four ‘fingers’ very short and about equal in length.
General: Wood soft, (air-dry +480 kg/m’); sapwood dirty white and
heartwood light brown; grows from seeds and cuttings; probably
not cold resistant and grows fairly fast.

116
292 Ptaeroxylon obliquum Sneezewood
Medium-large (15 m, but locally usually much smaller); deciduous
(leaves turn mustard-yellow to brown); crown fairly sparse and
poorly spreading; multi-stemmed or low-branching; old stems grey-
brown to dark grey; bark fibrous and splits lengthwise into narrow
ridges. Distribution: Prefers well-drained soil and therefore occurs
on the granitic soils in the western half of the park, the Lebombo
range and the Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri; fairly abundant
at Olifants rest camp. Leaves: Pendent; set very close at twig
terminals; paripinnately compound (up to eight pairs of leaflets);
leaflets up to 5,5 x 2,5 cm (usually smaller); asymmetrically wing-
shaped with the lower half smaller than the upper half; thin, hard,
fairly brittle, practically glabrous, dark green, glossy, marginally
entire; bright green dots (possibly glands) visible when held against
the light; young petioles hairy. Flowers: Male and female florets on
separate trees; small, pale yellow, fragrant; borne in dense clusters
below the new leaves; appear from August to October. Fruits:
Small capsules borne in clusters; initially pale green and later light
brown; flat, glabrous, shiny, broadly oblong (1,5 x 1 cm), slightly
broader at the bilobate apex than at the base; divided by a
longitudinal indentation; split lengthwise when ripe while still on
the trees; ripen from November onwards. General: Sapwood pale
yellow-brown, narrow; heartwood golden-brown to yellowish; very
hard and heavy (air-dry 1 184 kg/m’), tough, durable, insect proof;
oil with a peppery odour in the wood causes irritation of the nasal
mucous membranes; important medicinal plant; bark contains an
alkaloid, an evanescent oil, saponine, tannin, gum and fat and has a
bitter taste; leaves eaten by various browsers; growth tempo
moderate; probably not cold resistant.
117
293 Entandrophragma caudatum Mountain mahogany
Large (20 m), deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, rather poorly
branched, yet fairly dense, roundish crown and a long, bare, mostly
round and straight stem; bark resembles that of marula, i.e. fairly
smooth, pale to dark grey and peels off in large, thickish, irregular
blocks leaving dull yellow patches. Distribution: Only grows in
sands (Nwambiya) and rocky areas (ridges around Punda Maria and
the Lebombo range as far south as the Sabie River); rare. Leaves:
Pendent leaves up to 27 cm long; paripinnately compound with
three to seven pairs of leaflets; leaflets normally asymmetrically
lanceolate, that is, the lower, longitudinal half is smaller than the
upper; terminate in exceptionally long, narrow tips; up to 11 x 4,5
cm but mostly smaller; undersides softly pubescent when young;
marginally entire; leaves of seedlings simple, ribbed. Flowers: Very
small, inconspicuous, pale greenish-yellow; borne in long clusters
(up to 20 cm); appear before or together with the new leaves in
September, during times of drought sometimes much later. Fruits:
Large (22 x 6cm), pendent capsules; clavate, hard, woody,
inconspicuously sub-divided longitudinally by five little ridges;
initially bright glossy green, later purplish-brown and dark brown
when mature; while still on the trees split open along the ridges
when ripe; the five segments of the pericarp curl outward and away
from the central placenta bearing the seeds; seeds winged (6 x 2 cm),
fall with a swivelling action; ripen nearly a year after flowering in
July/August. General: Sapwood fairly wide, white to pink;
heartwood dark red-brown; fairly hard and heavy (air-dry 736 kg/m’);
texture rather fine; germinates well, grows slowly: probably not
cold resistant.

118
298 Ekebergia capensis Cape ash

Large (up to 18 m), evergreen (in wet conditions) tree with a very
wide-spreading, dense crown and pendent branch terminals; stems
rather short, fairly straight, dented when old; bark of old trees
relatively smooth, dark grey and does not peel off. Distribution:
Throughout the park but rather rare; prefers moist conditions;
many planted in rest camps. Leaves: Large (up to 30 cm long);
imparipinnately compound (up to seven pairs of leaflets plus a
terminal one); leaflets up to 14 x 5 cm but usually much smaller,
roughly symmetrical, lanceolate to oblong/ovate with long, narrow,
twisted apices; glabrous, marginally entire. Flowers: Small, white,
stellate; borne in long (up to 17 cm), sparse racemes, appear
October/November. Fruits: Reminiscent ofexotic seringa; borne in
pendent clusters on long, yellow-green stalks; globose; up to 2.cm in
diameter, bright red when ripe, glabrous, smooth and shiny; fruit
pulp white, slightly sticky; four seeds per fruit; ripen February/
March. General: Wood off-white/pale brown, without heartwood,
medium-heavy (air-dry 590 kg/m’) and fairly soft; works easily and
produces a smooth finish; suitable for manufacturing of furniture,
not durable: infusions of bark, leaves and roots widely used
medicinally; fruits eaten by animals but leaves not utilized; seeds
must be planted when fresh; germinate well; fast growing; fairly
cold resistant.

119
30 1 Trichilia emetica Natal mahogany
Very attractive, large (20 m), evergreen tree with a wide-spreading,
round, dense crown and pendent branchlets; stems low-branching
and longitudinally grooved; old bark fairly smooth, dark grey-
brown; due to an unknown disease bark sometimes breaks up into
large, thick blocks which curl up and peel off. Distribution: Water-
loving species; found along nearly all rivers and larger spruits with
year-round water, except in the Shingwedzi River and its
tributaries; in general rather rare; planted in all rest camps, except
Shingwedzi. Leaves: Imparipinnately compound (up to six pairs of
leaflets and a terminal one); sometimes very big, up to 50. cm long;
pair of leaflets in the middle ofthe leaf the biggest (up to 16 x 5,5
cm); leaflets oblong to elliptic; on the upper side glabrous, dark
green and glossy; underside pale greenish-brown and pubescent;
veins prominent. Flowers: Small, tubiform, predominantly green;
borne terminally in dense clusters; appear August/September.
Fruits: Capsules borne in dense, pendent clusters; roughly pear-
shaped; up to 4,5 x 3 cm, three longitudinal grooves prominent;
pale buff-green and finely pubescent; split open while still on the
trees; six seeds per fruit; seeds nearly enclosed by orange-coloured
pseudo-arils; exposed, oval portion pitch-black; about 2x lcm.
General: Wood without heartwood, light brown with red tinge;
fairly soft; light (air-dry 560 kg/m’); good timber for manufacturing
of furniture; seeds probably poisonous but eaten by birds, contain
large quantities of oil; leaves seldom utilized by game; seeds must
be planted when still fresh; also grows from cuttings; grows
exceptionally fast; sensitive to cold conditions.

120
308 Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Kudu berry
Smallish (10 m), deciduous tree with a bare, slightly bent, long stem
and a dense, round crown of which the lowest branches nearly reach
the ground; old stems pale grey to grey; bark cracks and later peels
off in small, irregular, rather thick sections. Distribution: Almost
exclusively in stony areas; mostly on the Lebombo range
northwards from the Olifants River as well as koppies and ridges in
the Punda Maria area; a few specimens in the Letaba/Phalaborwa
region. Leaves: Simple, alternately on new growth only; ovate to
round, from 1,9 x 1,8 cm to 5,6 x 4,1 cm, glabrous, marginally
entire, slightly glossy, buff-green. Flowers: Very small, yellowy-
green; male florets in groups; female ones single, borne on separate
trees; appear September/October. Fruits: Nearly globose (2 cm
diameter), segmented longitudinally (six segments); fleshy part very
thin; pale green, speckled and glossy when immature and golden-
brown, wrinkled when ripe; ripen from autumn to spring. General:
Wood pale brown with darker rings; medium-heavy (air-dry 890
kg/m’) and medium-hard, produces a smooth finish; has a very
pungent odour; does not contain latex; not poisonous, leaves and
fruit utilized by duiker, kudu and elephant; grows easily from seed
but slowly; probably not frost resistant; leaves turn a very pretty
dark red in autumn.

121
 31 4 Drypetes gerrardii Forest iron plum

Small (maximum 8 m), evergreen, slender tree with dense crown;

trunk usually branches low down; short lateral branches spread out
horizontally; stems grey to dark grey, slightly rough; bark does not
crack or peel off; (elsewhere to 20 m high with very long stems).
Distribution: Limited to the Lebombo range north of Nwanedzi rest
camp and ridges in the Punda Maria and Pafuri region. Leaves:
Simple, arranged spirally around twigs; lanceolate, to 9 x 4cm,
exceptionally dark green and shiny above, lighter and dull
underneath; marginally entire, apical half to two-thirds sometimes
indistinctly dentate; hard and glabrous. Flowers: Male and female
flowers very small, on separate trees; male flowers borne in short
racemes and female flowers solitary; flower buds appear in autumn
but flowers only open after sufficient rain, around September to
December or even as late as February. Fruits: Subglobose (to 1,3
cm diameter), hard, without mesocarp, inconspicuously segmented
longitudinally, pubescent; persistent calyx forms a ring around the
stalk; ripe fruits are light brown and have been found from
February to August. General: Wood heavy (air-dry 930 kg/m’),
oy exceptionally hard, without heartwood; pale buff-brown; polishes
S well; utilization by game minimal; slow grower; not frost resistant.

122
31 S Drypetes mossambicensis Sand iron plum
Medium-sized (18 m high), deciduous; crown rather spreading,
sparse; stem generally sub-divides close to the ground but
secondary stems are connate at the base and only spread out higher
up; old stems bare, rough, buff-grey, dented; bark cracks in almost
rectangular sections. Distribution: Very rare; limited to the
Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri. Leaves: Simple, arranged
spirally around new twigs; oblong to ovate, dark green, glossy
above, marginally entire, hard, leathery, glabrous, up to 7 x 3,5 cm.
Flowers: Very small, green to yellow-green; solitary (females) or in
small groups (males) on second-year wood on separate trees; very
poorly, November/December. Fruits: Slightly ovoid, conspicuously
trilocular, glabrous; persistent calyx forms small ring around the
stalk. General: Wood dark buff, without heartwood, fine-textured,
hard and heavy (air-dry 970 kg/m’); produces a smooth surface
when worked: suitable for furniture and ornaments; due to scarcity
no information available as to uses; apparently slow growing and
probably not frost resistant.

123
Sil 74 Hymenocardia ulmoides Red-heart tree

Small (maximum 8 m), deciduous (leaves turn red in autumn),

slender tree with moderately dense crown which spreads minimally
at the top; multi-stemmed, or single stem branches low down: old
trunks grey; bark relatively smooth and does not peel off.
Distribution: Limited to sandveld area around Punda Maria.
Leaves: Borne alternately; simple, oval to ovate, to 3,5 x 2cm,
marginally entire; broadly sinuate; apices bent downwards: glossy,
dark green above; glabrous; clumps of minute hairs in angles
between the midrib and major secondary veins on under side.
Flowers: Two sexes on separate trees; male florets very small,
strikingly red-brown, in terminal racemes; female florets flat, thin,
wedge-shaped or cordate, yellowy-green with bright red stigmata;
solitary but borne in masses; normally appear November. Fruits:
Enlarged female flowers, wedge-shaped or cordate, flat, thin,
central part slightly thickened, oval, 1 x 0,7 cm, surrounded by thin
parchment-like wing with a deep notch at the top (seldom an
additional wing); red to red-brown and later pale brown; ripen
in
January/February and persist for a long time. General: Wood
medium-heavy (air-dry 930 kg/m’), pale to dark brown, without
heartwood; finely textured, produces a fine finish; utilization
by
game sporadic; grows very slowly; sensitive to cold; outstanding
decorative plant, especially the female tree.

124
31 8 Antidesma venosum Tassel berry

Small (to 8 m), semi-deciduous to evergreen tree with short, low-

branching, crooked stem and dense, round crown with pendent
branch-ends; old trunks pale buff-grey (on shady side) to pale grey
(sunny side); bark shallowly grooved longitudinally, fairly soft,
fibrous. Distribution: Fairly abundant in deep, sandy soils of
Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria regions; also on Lebombo range.
Leaves: Simple, borne alternately around the twigs; large (up to
14x 7cm but mostly half the size), oval; glabrous, dark green with
waxy blotches on upper side; densely to finely pubescent and
brown-green underneath; marginally entire. Flowers: Small;
stamens with red anthers prominent in male inflorescences; in long
(up to 16 cm), thin catkins; sometimes two to three catkins ona
common peduncle; female florets green, also in thin, but short (5
cm) catkins near the twig terminals; appear November/December.
Fruits: Small, ovoid (1,1 x 0,8 cm), slightly depressed; mesocarp
relatively thick and fleshy; initially pale yellow (even white), later
red and black at ripening; edible. General: Wood light (air-dry 670
kg/m’), fairly soft, without heartwood; pale buff-brown with red of
tinge; texture fine; bark fibrous: extracts of bark, leaves and fruits
used for treatment of stomach ailments; leaves seldom utilized by 2
low
browsers; growth tempo initially fast; can withstand moderately
temperatures; recommended as ornamental plant.

125
 320 Cleistanthus schlechteri var. schlechteri False tamboti

Small (6 m), deciduous (leaves turn red to red-brown), multi- or

single-stemmed, low-branching tree; fairly upright with minimally
spreading crown; many twigs and branches; trunks pale buff-grey;
bark cracks into small, flat, more or less rectangular blocks.
Distribution: Limited to the Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri and
next to the Mozambique border. Leaves: Simple, borne on very
short, gnarled, lateral twigs; very small (up to 2,5 x 1,2 cm), oval to
obovate, smooth, glabrous, marginally entire, dark green and
glossy above. Flowers: The two sexes borne on separate trees; both
very small, yellow-green to pale green; borne in bunches; peduncles
rather long and extremely thin; flowers appear before or
simultaneously with the new leaves, October/November. Fruits:
Tripartite capsules, 1,0 x 0,8 cm, slightly compressed at both
extremities with a sharp mucro at the apex and an annular disc at
the base; glabrous and glossy; brown to dark brown when ripe
(January/February). General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 090 kg/m’),
hard; beautiful; sapwood biscuit-coloured with pinkish tinge;
heartwood dark brown with golden-brown blotches: finely textured;
o suitable for ornamental work; green wood damaged by borers;
? elephants relish this plant; slow grower; probably not frost resistant.

126
324 Bridelia micrantha Mitzeeri

Medium-sized (18 m), deciduous (leaves turn bright red to reddish-

brown) tree with fairly dense, spreading, roundish crown and a
relatively long, bare stem; old stems fairly smooth, pale grey to
nearly black; bark cracks here and there and peels offinsmall, flat,
square flakes. Distribution: Very rare; limited to the vicinity of
year-round water sources in granitic soils, especially along Sabie
River. Leaves: Simple, arranged symmetrically and alternately on
young twigs; vary tremendously in size, i.e. from 5 x 2cm to 20x 8
cm; roughly elliptic/oblong; upper surface dark green and glossy;
glabrous, marginally entire. Flowers: Very small, pale green to
yellow-green; sessile, in small groups in leaf axils; two sexes on
separate trees; flower buds appear in autumn but only open in
October/November. Fruits: Borne in small clusters; ovoid, 1,0x 0,7
cm, mesocarp relatively thick; skin smooth, glabrous, pitch-black
when ripe (January/February); edible. General: Wood hard,
medium-heavy (air-dry 670 kg/m’); sapwood buff-brown;
heartwood brown, finely textured; works easily and produces a
smooth surface; termite resistant; suitable for manufacturing of
furniture; medicinally widely used, e.g. in treatment of sore eyes,
intestinal pains and headaches; seldom utilized by game; fresh seeds
germinate easily; grows exceptionally fast and can withstand rather
cold conditions.

127
325 Bridelia mollis Velvet sweetberry
Smallish (9 m), deciduous (leaves turn golden-yellow to dark
brown) tree with few branches; crown sparse, moderately
spreading; formless; stem short, bent, dark grey to black; bark
grooved longitudinally, very hard. Distribution: Koppies and ridges
(granite, rhyolite and sandstone) north of the Olifants River as well
as the Lebombo range to the south of the river. Leaves: Simple; set
symmetrically in alternate arrangement; vary in size from 13 x 10 cm
to 8,5 x 7 cm; suborbicular to obovate; pale yellow-green,
conspicuously pubescent on both surfaces; soft; marginally entire.
Flowers: Two sexes on separate trees; yellow-green, small; borne in
clusters in leaf axils; trees only flower after good rains have fallen in
summer, normally not before November. Fruits: Slightly oblong,
about 1 cm diameter, initially pale green with white dots but black
when ripe; exocarp thin and mesocarp relatively thick; ripen
between March and July. General: Wood fairly hard and heavy (air-
dry 800 kg/m’); sapwood narrow; biscuit-coloured; heartwood buff-
brown with paler blotches; appears velvety when polished; well
suited for manufacturing of furniture; very seldom utilized by game;
young plants slow growing; should withstand moderately cold
conditions.

128
327 Androstachys johnsonii Lebombo ironwood
Large (up to 20 m), evergreen; crowns long and slender and trunks
long, bare and straight when in dense stands but in open stands
crowns moderately spreading, irregularly round and sparse with
lateral branches fairly low down; young twigs covered by a white
villose layer; lateral twigs in opposite pairs; stems greyish-white (on
sunny side) to nearly black (shade); bark grooved longitudinally,
resembling that of mopane. Distribution: Lebombo range
northwards from the Olifants River vicinity as well as ridges in the
Punda Maria/Pafuri area; mostly in very dense, nearly
homogeneous stands. Leaves: Simple; arranged in symmetrical,
decussate pairs; normally ovate/elliptic; on average 4 x 3 cm;
marginally entire; fairly thick, glossy and dark green above
although young leaves are white and villose beneath; leaves
revolute; in moist conditions only the margins curl over slightly but
in times of drought the entire leaf curls up; petioles as well as the
adnate and terminal stipules are white and villose. Flowers:
Unisexual; borne on separate trees; male florets tripartite, pinnate,
3 cm long and wither quickly; female florets small, solitary on
villose peduncles; usually only appear after good rain,
October/November. Fruits: Tripartite capsules; roundish and
compressed at the base and apex (1,2 x 0,8 cm); hard; initially
yellow-green, then red to red-brown and pale brown when ripe;
when still on the tree capsules dehisce with a loud crack to release
the seeds (January/February). General: Sapwood pale brown and
heartwood dark brown; very hard, heavy (air-dry 990 kg/m’),
tough, durable, insect resistant; easy to work and produces a very
smooth surface; suitable for fencing posts and as building material;
leaves are utilized by elephants as well as other browsers; grows
extremely slowly; probably not cold resistant. 129
328 Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus Lavender fever berry
Small (6 m), deciduous (leaves turn dark yellow to yellow-brown)
tree or multi-stemmed shrub; stem short, branching low down;
crown V-shaped, spreading; young twigs silvery with dark brown
dots; old stems rough and brownish-black; bark not particularly
rough. Distribution: Throughout the park but exclusively in rocky
or sandy areas such as the Malelane and Punda Maria mountains,
the Lebombo range and Nwambiya sandveld. Leaves: Simple;
arranged spirally around the twigs; mostly elliptic (6 x 2,5 cm);
marginally entire; upper surface dark green and glabrous; lower
surface silvery with brown dots; mostly with two dark brown,
cylindrical glands on the petiole; fragrant. Flowers: Yellowish,
small; borne in sparse, terminal spikes; spikes up to 11 cm long
(mostly 7 cm); female florets mostly near the base of the floral axis:
appear almost throughout the summer season. Fruits: Tripartite
capsules; about 1,2 cm diameter; slightly compressed at the base
and apex; silvery green; ripen from midsummer to winter. General:
Wood fairly hard and heavy (air-dry 750 kg/m*); medium-fine
texture; sapwood off-white/pale brown and heartwood dark brown;
well-known medicinal plant; leaves are used as perfume; contains
aromatic oils; sporadically browsed by elephant and kudu; no
information with regard to tempo of growth; probably not cold
resistant.

130
329 Croton megalobotrys Large fever berry
Medium-large (to 15 m) but normally much smaller (5 m);
deciduous; stem short, bent, grooved; crown dense, round with
lowest branches drooping; old trunks fairly smooth, grey-brown
with a yellow tinge; very thin outer layer of bark divides into
longitudinal strips. Distribution: Only on alluvial soil near rivers
and spruits; abundant north of Satara; rare in the southern parts.
Leaves: Spirally arranged around twigs; simple, cordate, usually
7x 5,5 cm but sometimes up to 18 x 14,5 cm, cordate at the base and
terminate in long narrow tips; margins irregulary serrate; upper
surface smooth but slightly rough beneath; two, ovoid, pale brown
glands occur on the petiole. Flowers: Yellow-green and borne in
long (up to 11 cm), sparse, terminal racemes; female florets (up to
8) near the base ofthe axis; male florets near the tip, although
sometimes there are only male florets; stamens conspicuously
yellow; female florets green with tripartite ovary and three antler-
shaped stigmata; appear October/November, sometimes earlier.
Fruits: Roughly pear-shaped to ovoid; unobtrusively trilocular;
about 3,5 x 2,5 cm; initially sparsely hairy; yellowish-brown when
ripe (February/March). General: Wood white to off-white, without
heartwood but with a small, soft core; light (air-dry 600 kg/m”), soft;
works easily; infusion of the bark used for treatment of malaria,
also used as fish poison; seeds used as purgative; elephants utilize
the tree extensively, especially at Letaba and Pafuri; young trees
fast growing (8 m in four years); fairly cold resistant.
341 Spirostachys africana Tamboti
Smallish (to 10 m), deciduous (leaves turn red to red-brown) tree
with a relatively long, sometimes very thick, straight stem and
roughly round, relatively dense crown; sometimes multi-stemmed;
old stems nearly black; bark breaks up into small, rectangular
sections in longitudinal rows; contains latex. Distribution: Widely
spread but not on basalt plains or granite undulations; abundant in
the mopane woodland south of Punda Maria, the sandveld of
Nwambiya (low-lying areas) and especially on the brackish flats in
the south, e.g., along the Lower Sabie road. Leaves: Arranged
spirally around branchlets; simple, oblong/ovate, about 5 x 2,5 cm,
thin; glabrous, faintly glossy above; margins finely crenate; two
very small glands occur on the petiole. Flowers: Inflorescence (thin
spike of 1,5 cm long) contains male and female florets; female
florets dark red, glossy, caulescent and borne at the base of the
spike; male florets very small, mainly yellow (anthers); sometimes
only male florets in a spike; appear August/September (sometimes
July) and may last till November. Fruits: Distinctly trilocular, 1 cm
in diameter, slightly compressed at the two ends, hard, glabrous,
smooth, pale brown when ripe (September/October); splits into
three when falling. General: Wood exceptional and well-known:
heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), very hard, finely textured, oily; sapwood
narrow and yellowish; heartwood dark brown with paler and darker
blotches; difficult to work with; finished product smooth; contains a
poisonous substance which causes severe eye irritation; exceptional
furniture wood; latex poisonous, therefore even wood not to be
used for braais; insects cause the fruits to hop around on the ground
especially on hot days; grows slowly; relatively cold resistant.

132
345 Euphorbia confinalis subsp. confinalis Lebombo
Euphorbia
Smallish (to 8 m), succulent-like tree with a long, thin, mostly
straight stem and a number of branches, each ending in a sparse and
rather small crown consisting of a few dead branches at the base and
living, erect ones on top; branches are up to 2 m long with the
terminals more or less on the same level; branches are green,
segmented, 4 to 5 cm in diameter and with 4 (sometimes 3) ridges;
bark grey-brown and rough; contains latex. Distribution: Limited to
the Lebombo range and its spurs as well as the ridges in the Punda
Maria/Pafuri area; planted in Letaba rest camp. Leaves: Very small,
on new growth only. Flowers: Small, pale yellow; sessile,
pseudanthia (cyathea) borne in groups of three above the spines,
central floret is male and the other two bisexual; appear May/June.
Fruits: Trilocular capsules with long stalks, 1 cm diameter, smooth,
glossy, glabrous, red when mature; split open to release the seeds
(August to October) while still on the trees. Spines: In pairs along
the ridges; slightly curved, about 7 mm long, grey, shed in time;
peltae of the spines brown and rough and form continuous or
unbroken ridges along the ridges of the stem. General: Wood white,
soft, fibrous, useless; seeds utilized by birds; drought resistant,
grows slowly; not cold resistant; can be propagated from seeds and
cuttings.

133
346 Euphorbia cooperi Transvaal candelabra tree

Smallish (7 m), succulent-like tree with a long, bare, single, straight

stem and a few dead branches below a dense crown of living, green
branches at the top; shaped like a candelabra; branches shed with
age, leave round holes in the stem; branches usually five-angled;
ridges very prominent; branches articulated; peltae of the spines
form continuous, hard, grey, rough ridges; bark grey and rough.
Distribution: Throughout the park on stony areas, especially the
Lebombo and Olifants River region. Leaves: Only on new growth;
1x 2mm; caducous. Flowers: Pseudanthia yellow-green, sessile,
few mm in diameter; borne in groups above the thorns and form
roughly three continuous rows; middle row consists of male flowers
and the other two of bisexual flowers; appear May to August.
Fruits: Trilocular capsules, roughly 1 cm diameter, clearly
triangular, compressed at the base and apex, glabrous, smooth,
glossy, dark red at the apices and corners; purple when ripe
(spring/early summer). Spines: In pairs; short (6 mm), thin, grey
thorns on the ridges; shed in time. General: Wood white, light, soft,
fibrous, useless; devoured by termites when dry; latex poisonous
and dangerous in eyes and on skin; utilization limited to seed-eating
birds; latex used as fish poison: dry grass saturated with latex is
wound around rocks and then thrown into stagnant pools;
propagated by means of seeds and cuttings; drought resistant; grows
very slowly; sensitive to low temperatures.

134
348 Euphorbia evansii Lowveld Euphorbia
Small (up to 5 m) tree; mostly single-stemmed; stems sometimes
branched; crown candelabrum-like, fairly sparse; branches dark
green, spreading, up to 2 m long, usually 5-angled (sometimes 3- to
6-angled), thin (up to 2 cm in diameter); spine shields separate;
contains white latex. Distribution: Mainly limited to some of the
koppies in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane region — amongst others on
Mangake. Leaves: Exceptionally small, only on new growth,
caducous. Flowers: Greenish-yellow, small, in rows on the wings of
young branchlets; a solitary cyme develop from each pale brown
flowering eye; appear during August/September. Fruits: Typically
3-lobed capsules, about 7 mm in diameter; ripen from October
onwards. Thorns: In pairs on the ridges of stems; up to 6 mm long.
General: Wood soft, light, fibrous, useless; fairly cold resistant; tree
with a fairly limited distribution, viz. the southern part of the
Transvaal Lowveld, with the inclusion of the Drakensberg
(Strydom tunnel), Swaziland and parts of Natal.

135
So Euphorbia ingens Common tree Euphorbia
Medium-sized (to 15 m), succulent-like tree with a short, straight,
grey/dark grey, slightly rough, dented stem and very large, dense
crown shaped like a candelabra; all branches persistent; branches
dark green, smooth, four-sided with four ridges (sometimes five or
six), articulated; branches freely; ridges more prominent near the
tips of the branches; contains latex. Distribution: Relatively rare in
the park; on stony areas as well as deep sand. Leaves: Caducous;
very small. Flowers: Yellowy-green, in groups ofthree, close to the
peltae of the spines on a common peduncle of about 1 cm in length;
anthers bright red; appear May/June. Fruits: Subglobose
(inconspicuously tripartite), 1,3 cm in diameter, smooth, glabrous;
peduncles exceptionally long (4,5 cm); ripen in spring, split open
while on the trees. Spines: Mostly absent; sometimes pairs of small,
short, grey spines; peltae confined to the hollows of the undulations
of the ridges only. General: Wood soft, fibrous, white, useless: latex
poisonous; seeds utilized by birds; propagated from seeds and
cuttings; drought resistant; grows slowly.

136
B55 Euphorbia tirucalli Rubber Euphorbia
Small (to 7 m), succulent-like tree with a stout, straight, round,
grey-green to dark grey stem and a slightly spreading, more or less
roundish, sparse and untidy crown; thin, cylindrical branchlets
occur opposite each other, or alternately and are smooth, glabrous,
roughly 8 mm in diameter and are longitudinally striated; contains
latex; spineless; old bark slightly rough with longitudinal dents and
ridges and breaks up into small blocks. Distribution: Relatively rare
but occurs throughout the park on stony areas and often in dense
thickets; several specimens can be seen on the ridge next to the
Nyala-drive road at Pafuri. Leaves: Linear, minute (1,1 x 0,2 cm),
marginally entire, sessile, glabrous; caducous. Flowers: Pseudanthia
only borne at twig terminals; in compact groups; sessile, yellow-
green; borne June/July, sometimes October. Fruits: Tripartite,
inconspicuously lobed; globose, 1,2 cm diameter, short-stalked,
hairy, pale green with a pink tinge; ripen September to December
and split open while still on the trees. General: Wood white, slightly
harder than that of other Euphorbias, useless; latex poisonous but
nevertheless used to treat impotence and snake bite; planted to
form hedges around dwellings to ward off intruders (even
mosquitoes!); latex was tested for the production of rubber but did
not come up to expectations; seeds are utilized by birds; propagated
by means of seeds and cuttings; exceptionally drought resistant;
moderately fast growing.

137
360 Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra Marula
(= S. caffra)

Medium-sized (to 15 m), deciduous tree with bare, mostly straight,

round, long stem and widely spreading, fairly dense, roundish
crown; old stems are fairly smooth; bark peels off sporadically in
rather large, flat, roundish discs exposing the underlying yellowy
bark; old stems are therefore grey with yellowish patches.
Distribution: Throughout the park; abundant on the Lebombo
plains (basalt). Leaves: Borne close together at the ends of the
twigs; imparipinnate and mostly consist ofthree pairs of lateral
leaflets and a terminal one; sometimes 30 cm but mostly 15 cm long;
leaflets elliptic/lanceolate, up to 6 x 3. cm, glossy above, marginally
entire (except on young plants), glabrous. Flowers: Unisexual, on
separate trees; male flowers dark red in the bud stage and pink and
white when open; borne in long (up to 15 cm), sparse, drooping
racemes; female flowers, dark red in the bud and reddish-purple
and white when mature, are borne on long peduncles (3 cm) just
below the new leaves; normally appear from August to September,
sometimes much earlier (June) or later (February). Fruits: Globose
to ovoid, smooth, glabrous, glossy, up to about 4 cm diameter: the
thick, soft exocarp encloses the white, soft, slimy fruit pulp and
large, hard, woody stone; stone trilocular; seeds nut-like, white:
usually ripen during January/February; turns yellow after falling.
General: Wood off-white with reddish tinge, fairly light (air-dry 560
kg/m’), exceptionally tough and difficult to work: coarse in texture;
fruits edible; exceptionally high vitamin C content; fruits and leaves
utilized by a large variety of wild animals; bark stripped by
elephants; grows fairly quickly from seeds and cuttings; not cold
resistant.
138
362 Lannea discolor Live-long
Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with a neat, wide-spreading, round
(sometimes formless) crown and often pending branch terminals;
stems long, bare, straight and dark leaden-grey; twig terminals
exceptionally thick; leaf scars very prominent; old bark slightly
rough, irregularly grooved longitudinally or cracked into small
blocks which peel off. Distribution: Relatively rare in the park; only
on granite (in the western half) and rhyolite (Lebombo) as well as
Punda Maria sandveld area; prominent in Pretoriuskop vicinity.
Leaves: Arranged spirally around twig terminals; imparipinnate,
consisting of three to four pairs and one lateral leaflet; up to 28 cm
long; young leaflets mauve or pale brown, tomentose, later pale
grey to grey-brown and hairy; when mature glabrous and dark
green above but grey-white and tomentose beneath; all leaflets
narrowly oval to broadly oblong, 5 x 2 cm, marginally entire.
Flowers: Male and female flowers minute; pale yellow, in racemes
on separate trees; male racemes long (up to 14 cm) and female
racemes only 5 cm; floral axis tomentose; appear before new leaves
(August/September), sometimes later. Fruit: Ovoid, small
(1,0 x 0,7 cm), compressed on the sides, glabrous, glossy, with four
prominent protruberances at the apex; purply-black when ripe
(December/January); mesocarp green and fleshy; stones
conspicuously pitted. General: Wood soft, light (air-dry 540 kg/m’),
pale brown; coarse in texture; suitable for fabrication of pounding
blocks, plates and spoons; fruits are edible, utilized by man and
beast; leaves eaten by browsers; fibrous, living bark plaited into
cordage; propagated from seeds and cuttings; grows quite fast; not
cold resistant.

139
363 Lannea schweinfurthii var. stuhlmannii False marula

Smallish to medium-sized (to 14 m), deciduous tree with a single,

bare, shortish, relatively straight stem and spreading, mostly round
but often asymmetric crown; branch terminals often drooping; old
stems smooth, brown-grey; bark peels off sporadically in oval strips
or flakes leaving paler coloured blotches. Distribution: Throughout
the park; rather abundant in and around Skukuza as well as
between Tshokwane and Satara. Leaves: Imparipinnate with one or
two lateral pairs and one terminal leaflet; mostly about 15 cm long;
leaflets broadly elliptic to nearly ovate, 5 x 4cm; tomentose when
young and later glabrous, smooth and glossy above, marginally
entire. Flowers: Unisexual and found on separate trees; male florets
yellow-green, borne in long (13 cm), thin (1,5 cm), pendent
racemes, mostly three per peduncle; female florets pale yellow,
borne in shorter (8 cm), thin (1 cm) racemes: appear
November/December but sometimes October or as late as
February. Fruits: Borne in long bunches, pale red while swelling
and dark wine-red to black when ripe; ovoid, slightly compressed,
1,2 x 0,6 cm, with four apical protruberances: mesocarp thin,
green,
smooth; stones biscuit-coloured with characteristic network
of tiny
holes on the sides; normally ripen January/February. General:
Wood fairly light (air-dry 570 kg/m’); off-white, undifferentiated,
medium-hard; easy to work but does not finish smoothly; damaged
by insects when dry; fruits pleasant tasting and utilized by
man and
beast; vegetative parts widely utilized by browsing wild animals;
in
late summer leaves on some branches can turn yellow or
even
white; fairly fast growing; probably not cold resistant.

140
Bval Ozoroa engleri White resin tree
Small (5 m— seldom 10 m), semi-deciduous tree or recumbent
shrub; stem usually bent and short; crown fairly spreading and
roundish with pendent branchlets; old stems dark grey-brown to
nearly black and rough; bark cracks up into small, irregular blocks;
the cell-sap is resin-like and yellowish. Distribution: Widespread in
the park but nowhere in large concentrations; mostly limited to the
basalt plains (eastern half) south of the Olifants River as well as the
Lebombo range. Leaves: In verticils of three to seven on fairly thick
branchlets; simple, oblong/elliptic, mostly 5 x 1,7 cm, marginally
entire; glabrous, glossy and dark green above, grey-white/silvery
and pubescent underneath; always partially conduplicate upwards
and curved down lengthwise; veins in a herring-bone pattern.
Flowers: White, small; in sparse, pendent, terminal racemes; borne
November/December to March. Fruits: In pendent clusters,
roughly bean-shaped (9 x 7 mm); initially glossy green with brown
dots and later black and crumpled; peduncles exposed to sunlight
turn red, yellow on underside; fleshy part has a resin-like odour;
ripen from February to May, depending on the flowering time.
General: Wood fairly light (air-dry 800 kg/m’) and hard;
undifferentiated; dark brown with reddish tinge; pith corky; easy to
work with but apparently not used in any way; contains resin,
extracts of the bark, leaves and roots are used as purgatives; leaves
utilized by browsers; slow growing.

141
375 Ozoroa paniculosa Common resin tree

Smallish (9 m); deciduous — late in spring; crown sparse, poorly

spreading with pendent branchlets; long, unbranched suckers often
sprout from the base of the stem; stems dark grey; bark
exceptionally thick, breaks up into small blocks, and rough; cell-sap
sticky and smells like resin; living bark red. Distribution: Limited to
northern sandveld regions in the park as well as granite and basalt
as far south as Shingwedzi. Leaves: Simple leaves are borne in
verticils of three, sometimes spirally; oblong/oval, up to 17 x 5cm,
usually smaller, dark green and glabrous above, silvery tomentose
underneath; margins minutely and fairly symmetrically crenate;
veins form a herring-bone pattern. Flowers: Small, white; in dense,
terminal racemes; borne midsummer. Fruits: Small (1 x 0,7 cm),
kidney-shaped, initially shiny and bright green with red-brown dots:
black, raisin-like when ripe (March to May); contains sticky,
yellowish sap with resin-like odour. General: Wood fairly light (air-
dry 670 kg/m’), soft, tough, undifferentiated: pale red-brown and
slightly darker in the centre; pith small, soft; coarsely textured;
works easily and does not render a smooth surface; probably not
used in any way; fruits contain different kinds of oil: bark contains
tannin and dye; leaves utilized by elephants; damaged extensively
by veld fires; grows moderately fast; fairly cold resistant.

142
3/6 Ozoroa insignis subsp. reticulata False currant resin
tree (= O. reticulata)
Small (up to 7 m— elsewhere 12 m) deciduous tree with a short, bent
stem and sparse, spreading, formless crown, twisted branches and
numerous lateral shoots, many of which are dead; stems dark grey
to grey-brown; bark on branches appear succulent-like with
conspicuous crosswise grooves; old bark breaks up into small,
symmetrical blocks; living bark red. Distribution: Limited to
granitic soils in the south of the park; rather abundant in the
Pretoriuskop/Malelane area. Leaves: Arranged more or less in
verticils of three; simple, oblong, mostly 10 x 2,5 cm; finely
pubescent above and covered with downy pubescence below;
tuberculate above and brownish-green below; undulating and
twisted; margins inconspicuously crenate; veins form a herring-
bone pattern. Flowers: Small, white, in terminal racemes; appear
from September to November. Fruits: Small (1 x 0,5 cm), roughly
bean-shaped, glabrous, shiny; initially pale green, then with brown
spots; black and wrinkled when ripe (December/January); borne in
sparse, terminal clusters; cell sap resin-like. General: Wood
undifferentiated, pale brown at outer edge to reddish in the centre;
light (air-dry 700 kg/m’), brittle; works easily and produces a fairly
smooth finish; living wood damaged by borers; damaged by
veldfires; bark contains large quantities of yellowy sap which is used
as bird lime as well as medicinally; extracts of the roots and leaves
are also used against colic and diarrhoea; leaves utilized by
browsers but an unimportant food plant; grows relatively fast;
moderately cold resistant.

143
399 Maytenus heterophylla Common spike thorn
Small (6 m), evergreen tree with crooked stem and sparse, formless
crown and drooping, terminal branches; old stems are pale grey and
have characteristic deep, longitudinal grooves; ridges also break up
crosswise. Distribution: Sparsely scattered, but throughout the park
on all soil types; largest specimens around Pretoriuskop. Leaves:
Close together at twig terminals; simple, spatulate to obovate,
apically emarginate, buff-green, glabrous, up to 6 x 3cm; margins
minutely dentate in upper half. Flowers: Small, stellate, white,
malodorous; borne in dense, short racemes between the leaves:
borne May/June, sometimes not until December. Fruits:
Subglobose (1 x 0,9 cm), smooth, glabrous, hard, yellow with red
cheeks when ripe (spring); tripartite and dehisce while still on the
trees; seeds blood-red and shiny, partly covered by a white, fleshy
pseudo-aril. Thorns: Single, up to 9 cm long, firm, hard, sharp,
leaf-bearing; eventually shed. General: Wood fairly light (air-dry
660 kg/m’), hard, finely grained, undifferentiated, yellow-brown
with red tinge and slightly darker in the centre: produces a smooth
surface; suitable for household articles; leaves utilized by browsers;
fruits eaten by birds; widely used medicinally, against amoebic
dysentry, diarrhoea, chest ailments and as snake-bite antidote; bark
contains dulcitol, tannin and selastrine; germinates readily; grows
slowly; drought resistant.

144
403 Maytenus undata Koko tree
Locally small (6 m), but elsewhere up to 15 m; evergreen; crown
round and dense with drooping branchlets; stem short, straight; old
stems grey to dark grey; bark rough only on old stems and then
peels off in small, rectangular blocks; thornless. Distribution: Rare
in Kruger Park; limited to the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area and
almost exclusively in stony situations. Leaves: Simple, spirally
arranged around the twigs; mostly elliptical/oblong, about 8 x 3,5
cm, but varies tremendously; leathery, pale green, glabrous, shiny;
margins with large and irregular dentations. Flowers: Small, pale
yellow to yellow-green with long (up to 2 cm) pedicels; borne in
masses in leaf axils; appear July/August, sometimes much later.
Fruits: Strikingly attractive, subglobose, 1 cm diameter,
conspicuously tripartite, split longitudinally into three parts when
ripe (January/February); seed pale brown and partly covered by a
soft, yellow pseudo-aril. General: Wood pale brown,
undifferentiated, fairly heavy (air-dry 910 kg/m’), hard, very fine-
grained; produces a particularly smooth finish; insect damage
minimal; highly regarded for manufacturing of spoons; leaves
apparently seldom utilized by game animals; birds eat the seeds;
cold resistant; propagated by means of seeds as well as cuttings;
slow grower.

145
404 Catha edulis Bushman’s tea

Small (7 m), deciduous tree with a sparse, slightly spreading crown

and a short, mostly straight stem; branchlets long, lax and pendent;
old stems brown-grey to nearly black; very old bark develops slight
longitudinal ridges which also crack crosswise but otherwise fairly
smooth. Distribution: Encountered only in one locality in the park
thus far, on the bank of the Sabie River near the western boundary.
Leaves: Simple; borne in decussate pairs; narrowly oval (8,5 x 3,5
cm), very brittle, glabrous, dully glossy; margins finely serrulate.
Flowers: Very small (S mm diameter), pale yellow; borne in small,
compact racemes in leaf axils; appear August/September. Fruits:
Small (1 x 0,2 cm), oblong capsules in dense clusters; smooth,
glabrous, longitudinally divided into three locules; dark brown
when ripe (November/December); dehisce longitudinally and
valves then draw away from each other; seeds very small (3 x 1
mm), oval with membranous wings. General: Wood medium-heavy
(air-dry 800 kg/m’), hard, brittle, undifferentiated, pale brown to
brown, very fine in texture; timber saws and planes easily; insect
resistant; used for household articles and furniture; leaves contain a
habit-forming stimulant when brewed like tea or chewed fresh or
dry; chemical analysis proved the presence of, amongst others,
tannin, mannitol, cathine, cathidine and cathinine: much sought-
after plant in North Africa, especially the Arabic states where it is
known as “khat”; also used for treatment of coughs, asthma and
digestive ailments; usually propagated by means of roots;
germination very poor; grows exceptionally fast; cold resistant.

146
41 6 Cassine transvaalensis Transvaal saffron

Smallish (up to 10 m but usually 5 or 6 m); deciduous in dry years or

semi-deciduous and leaves shed over a very short period during
summer; stem short, bare, mostly crooked, pale greyish-white,
crown sparse, spreading, very twiggy, round with pendent
branchlets; very old stems dark grey/black and bark then breaks up
into small blocks. Distribution: Common but sparsely distributed;
does not require specific habitat conditions but favours low-lying
brackish areas in the granitic block (western half). Leaves: Simple;
usually set close together at twig terminals but sometimes arranged
in irregular verticils of three on young branchlets; narrowly
oval/oblong, usually about 5 x 2.cm, hard, leathery, glabrous,
smooth, glossy; marginally entire, inconspicuously dentate or have
sharp spiniferous denticles — on the same tree. Flowers: Small,
green, tripartite; inflorescence flat or cupola-shaped; borne
amongst the leaves; appear from November/December to
February. Fruits: Borne in short, pendent clusters; fruits ovoid
(2x 1,6cm), slightly tuberculate, inconspicuously grooved
longitudinally, smooth, glabrous; initially pale yellow and later dark
brown; develop very slowly and only ripen from July to September.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), hard, finely textured;
pink when green and brown with a reddish tinge when dry;
undifferentiated; produces a smooth finish; insect resistant; widely
used for manufacturing of household articles; fruits edible but not
very palatable; utilized by birds; leaves utilized by browsers; grows
extremely slowly.

147
422 Apodytes dimidiata subsp. dimidiata White pear
Small (6 m, elsewhere up to 20 m), evergreen, slender tree with V-
shaped crown; mostly multi-stemmed or stem sub-divides near the
ground; old stems longitudinally fluted and the bark grey and
smooth. Distribution: Very rare in the park and limited to the
mountainous area in the vicinity of Berg-en-dal and Malelane.
ao Arranged spirally around branchlets: simple, elliptic (up to
5x 3cm), marginally entire; dark green, glossy, smooth and
oat above; insects cause small, hard, yellowy-green, conical
growths (galls) on upper surface with small dents on the under
sides. Flowers: Small; snow-white with long, narrow recurved
petals; borne in dense, pendent, terminal clusters: usually appear
meagrely and more than once a year; buds arrive in
August/September but only open after good Spring rain. Fruits:
Assymetrical, kidney-shaped, slightly compressed on the sides;
small (6 x 3 mm); practically without mesocarp; initially brown-
green and pubescent and later black and glabrous; partly covered by
the fleshy pseudo-aril which is red at first and later grey-black;
mature fruits have been found in September; usually ripen in late
summer/autumn. General: Wood quite hard and heavy (air-dry
800 kg/m’), undifferentiated: pale brown, fine in texture; works
easily and a smooth surface is obtained; well-known furniture wood;
fruits inedible, generally poorly utilized by wildlife; grows slowly;
not cold resistant.

148
427 Atalaya alata Lebombo krantz ash
Medium-large (13 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow) tree witha
very long, bare, longitudinally fluted stem and a meagrely
branched, sparse crown; old stems are pale grey and slightly rough
with small, scattered protruberances and dents. Distribution: Rare;
limited to a few ravines in the Lebombo range south and north of
the Olifants River. Leaves: Pinnate with six ‘pairs’ of leaflets;
members of a pair mostly not opposite each other; whole leaf up to
20 cm long and leaflets 7 x 2 cm; leaflets asymmetrically semilunar,
oblong, thin, slightly pergamentaceous, glabrous; margin of convex
half (the biggest) conspicuously dentate but the other side dentate
only over the quarter or third nearest the apex. Flowers: Very
small, white, almost globose; borne in branched racemes at the twig
terminals; appear end October/November, depending on rainfall.
Fruits: In large, terminal clusters; each consists of three winged
fruits, like a triple-bladed propellor; fruits about 4 cm long in total,
glabrous, slightly scabrous; consist of a hard, thickened part and a
firm, pergamentaceous, veined, undulating wing; frequently one or
two of the fruits are absent or the seeds are undeveloped; ripen in
autumn. General: Wood fairly light (air-dry 720 kg/m’), medium-
hard, brittle, finely textured, pale yellowy-white, undifferentiated;
uses unknown; probably only utilized by elephants; grows slowly;
most probably not cold resistant.

149
433 Pappea capensis Jacket plum

Two types: (a) Small (5 m); deciduous to evergreen; stem short,

bare, rather crooked; crown very dense, spreading, round; on
brackish flats along rivers; (b) small, deciduous; stem sub-divides
near the ground; crown slender, very sparse; on koppies and
mountains; stems fairly smooth, bark grey and peels off sporadically
(a) and nearly white, not peeling off (b). Distribution: Throughout
the park; in the south on brackish flats as well as mountains and
koppies but in the north only on stony areas. Leaves: Leaves simple;
close together at twig terminals, oblong/elliptic to obovate, up to
7x 2,5 cm but mostly smaller, very hard, smooth, dark green, fairly
glossy above, rough underneath; margins of those on young
branchlets sharply serrulate and others entire; young leaves
brownish tomentose underneath. In the case of the mountain type
leaves much bigger, up to 17 x 6 cm and on average 9 x 3 cm.
Flowers: Male and bisexual flowers are borne on separate trees;
petals of bisexual ones (3) white and the hairy ovaries buff-green, in
spikes up to 6 cm long; male florets green to yellow and are borne in
short spikes (+ 4 cm); type (a) flowers September to November and
type (b) February to March. Fruits: Tripartite or trilobular; each
lobe globose; initially green, pale brown and tomentose, later dark
brown; about 2 cm diameter; seeds are covered by a thin, glossy,
bright red mesocarp; borne in clusters; type (a) ripens in December
and type (b) in spring. General: Wood undifferentiated, pale brown
with reddish tinge, tough, fairly heavy (air-dry 860 kg/m’), hard
with a fine texture; excellent fodder plant for game and domestic
stock; growth tempo slow; cold resistant.

150
435 Stadmania oppositifolia subsp. rhodesica Silky plum
Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with bare, mostly crooked,
sometimes low-branching stem and a slightly spreading, fairly
sparse, slender crown; new branchlets pale brown, hairy; old stems
fairly smooth, pale buff-grey with yellow blotches occuring when
the bark peels off in small, flat flakes. Distribution: Only on the
sandstone ridges (Karoo sediments) east/north-east of Punda Maria
and the vicinity of Olifants rest camp (rhyolite ridges and alluvial
soils on the riverbanks). Leaves: Arranged spirally around the
twigs; they are paripinnate with one to four pairs of leaflets; leaflets
mostly in precise pairs; juvenile leaves covered by pale brown hairs,
later practically glabrous; leaflets elliptic to obovate, exceptionally
glossy above, normally up to 6,5 x 3 cm, marginally entire. Flowers:
Tiny, yellow-green; borne in spikes of about 6 cm long; appear
November/December. Fruits: Theoretically tripartite or trilobular
but usually only one lobe, sometimes two, fully developed; lobes
look like separate fruits on a communal stalk; lobes globose, about
1 cm diameter, olive green, pubescent; split open longitudinally;
seeds pale brown and enclosed by the thin, glossy mesocarp; ripen
late summer; seldom reach maturity in the park. General: Wood
exceptionally hard and heavy (air-dry | 180 kg/m’), brittle,
undifferentiated, pink to pale brown with a reddish tinge; difficult
to work; finely textured; ideally suited for ornamental work; leaves
utilized by elephants and fruits by birds; probably grows very slowly
and apparently not cold resistant.

151
447 Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronata Buffalo-thorn
Smallish (up to 9 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow) tree with rather
short, crooked stem and sparse, spreading crown usually with
drooping branchlets; twigs red-brown, zigzag at the nodes; old
stems pale grey; bark cracks into irregular, fibrous, longitudinal
strips which peel off sporadically. Distribution: Widespread in the
park on all soil types; in larger numbers on brackish flats. Leaves:
Borne alternately and between the two thorns of a pair; simple;
mostly broadly ovate, up to 7 x 4cm (mostly 4 x 3 cm), glabrous,
conduplicate upwards; margins regularly dentate. Flowers: Small,
stellate, yellow-green; borne in short, round racemes in the leaf
axils; flowers between October and late summer, depending on the
rainfall. Fruits: Globose berries, 1 cm in diameter, smooth, hard,
dark brown; mesocarp thin and floury; first fruits ripen in January;
often found on leafless trees in winter. Thorns: In pairs, one straight
(up to 2 cm long) and the other curved backwards (up to 7mm
long); shiny, smooth, hard, very sharp, pale to dark brown: seldom
absent. General: Wood sub-divided into a narrow, pale yellow-
brown outer layer and a large, pale brown to brown, central part;
fairly heavy (air-dry 880 kg/m’), hard, finely textured, tough and
elastic; used for production of all sorts of farming requisites, e.g.
spoons, pounding blocks; exceptional medicinal plant used for the
treatment of stomach ailments, carbuncles and chest complaints;
fruits edible; leaves nutritious and utilized by game as well as
domestic stock; grows fairly fast; cold resistant. (At Pretoriuskop,
on the Drakensberg and even as far as the Western Transvaal. a
thornless variety with much bigger leaves are encountered).

152
448 Ziziphus rivularis False buffalo-thorn

Smallish (up to 8 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow to red-brown),

slender, sparse, erect tree; often multi-stemmed; young stems
smooth and pale grey, nearly white; bark on very old stems
brownish-black and splits more or less longitudinally into uneven
blocks; thornless. Distribution: Limited to the Lebombo mountain
range between the Crocodile and Sabie rivers; a few plants have
also been found along the Mphongolo River north-west of
Shingwedzi. Leaves: Arranged unevenly spirally around the
branchlets; simple, oval, on average 6 x 3 cm (sometimes much
bigger), dark green, shiny, glabrous; margins finely serrated; three
large veins originate in the bases. Flowers: Small, yellowish, about
stellate; solitary and sometimes in pairs in the leaf axils, seldom
three; appear November/December. Fruits: Subglobose, 0,8 cm in
diameter, hard, shiny, glabrous, inconspicuously divided into three
longitudinal sections; yellow when ripe; persist on the trees for
some time; indehiscent; mesocarp thin; seeds trilocular; ripen
roughly March/April. General: Wood evenly pale brown,
undifferentiated, fairly heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’), fine-textured;
works easily; probably not used in any way; elephants utilize the
trees sporadically; grows fairly fast; sensitive to frost.
449 Berchemia discolor Brown ivory
Medium-large (up to 14 m), deciduous to evergreen (in gardens)
tree with fairly long, bare straight stem and dense, spreading,
usually symmetric, round crown; old stems grey to dark grey and
bark splits into longitudinal ridges which crack crosswise into small
blocks which are discarded unobtrusively. Distribution: Throughout
the park but rare and limited to granite (western half), rhyolite
(Lebombo) and sand (Punda Maria/Nwambiya); often on termite
mounds; several trees along the Lower Sabie road. Leaves: Borne
alternately or in opposite pairs; simple, oval, on average 5,5 x 2,5
cm; thin, soft, glabrous, dark green, marginally entire, shiny
underneath the faint bloom which rubs off easily; two small, brown
stipules in leaf axils. Flowers: Small (5 mm in diameter), yellow-
green, stellate; borne on short pedicels in subsessile clusters in the
leaf axils; normally appear November/December, sometimes as late
as February. Fruits: Usually one or two fruits per leaf axil; they are
ovoid, 1,7 x 0,8 cm, initially blue-green and pale yellow when ripe;
peduncles short (0,6 cm); edible, palatable; exocarp soft and
mesocarp thin; ripen March/April. General: Wood hard. heavy (air-
dry 990 kg/m*), sapwood pale brown, heartwood yellow-brown with
red tinge, fine-textured, works toa very smooth finish; suitable for
furniture and lathe-work, several animal species (birds, insects,
elephant, kudu, giraffe and impala) utilize the fruits and leaves;
slow grower; not frost resistant.

154
450 Berchemia zeyheri Red ivory

Medium-large (15 m), deciduous to evergreen (in gardens) tree with

relatively long, bare, fairly straight stem and wide-spreading, dense,
neat crown; old stems are grey to grey-brown; bark rough and
divides into blocks arranged more or less in rows. Distribution:
Scarce; only in Pretoriuskop/Malelane area, southern part of the
Lebombo, along streams between the Sabie and Olifants rivers as
well as near Punda Maria; usually in dense thickets such as along
streams or on koppies. Leaves: Borne in opposite pairs on the twigs,
sometimes alternate; simple, oval, from 2,5 to 5,5 by 1,5 to 3,5 cm;
green to blue-green, shiny underneath the faint bloom which rubs
off easily, thin, glabrous, smooth; margins inconspicuously dentate;
veins sometimes purple in young leaves; stipules like in B. discolor.
Flowers: Small, yellow-green, stellate; in sparse clusters on short
peduncles in the leaf axils; flowering starts in October. Fruits:
Ovoid, broader near the stalk, 1,3 x 0,5 cm, blue-green with buff-
white bloom, shiny and yellow to red when ripe (January); stalks
thin, longer than those of B. discolor; exocarp and mesocarp thin;
edible and palatable. General: Wood exceptional; hard, heavy (air-
dry 1 060 kg/m*); sapwood pale biscuit-coloured and heartwood
bright red, fine-textured; colour of heartwood changes to brown
when exposed to the sun; used for ornamental purposes; fruits
utilized by many animals, also eaten by man, even in a dried form;
medicinally unimportant; leaves utilized to a limited extent by
browsers; very slow growing; not frost resistant.

155
455 Heteropyxis natalensis Lavender tree
Smallish (8 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow) tree with medium-
spreading, sparse, formless crown and short, often crooked and
fluted stem; stems smooth and very pale grey; bark on very old
stems develop a reticulate pattern without breaking up into separate
blocks. Distribution: Rare species and limited to mountains and
koppies south of the Sabie River (Pretoriuskop/Malelane) as well as
the sandstone and dolerite ridges in the Punda Maria area. Leaves:
Borne spirally around the twigs; simple, linear/lanceolate, on
average 5,5 x 1,1 cm, marginally entire, glabrous, smooth, thin,
pendent, conduplicate upwards, recurved along their lengths;
numerous tiny glands on upper surface; sometimes elongated glands
in the corners between the midrib and one or two secondary veins.
Flowers: Very small (3 mm in diameter), white, fragrant; borne in
clusters in the axils of the youngest leaves; appear
January/February. Fruits: Very small (4 mm in diameter), globose,
longitudinally divided into four segments, buff-brown, shiny as a
result of gummy exudation; borne in dense clusters: ripen during
autumn and winter. General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’),
hard, tough, pale brown with purple or pink tinge, exceptionally
fine-textured; produces a very smooth finish: not used extensively;
leaves are used for brewing tea and as perfume, also as a de-
worming agent; seldom utilized by game; grows slowly;
probably
not cold resistant.

156
460 Grewia hexamita Giant raisin

Small (5 m), deciduous tree with a short, crooked, fluted stem anda
formless or roundish crown; mostly a rather large shrub with a
sparse crown. Old stems dark grey and rough and bark breaks up
into longitudinal ridges. (I found one tree of about 10 m high).
Distribution: Grows throughout the park on all soil types but never
in dense stands. Leaves: Simple, oval to oblong, asymmetrically
cordate at the base, on average 8 x 4,5 cm, but varies greatly; dark
green and glossy; glabrous above and pubescent beneath; margins
very finely serrate, arranged precisely alternately on new growth.
Flowers: Largest of the Grewias; exceptionally attractive, bright
yellow, stellate, about 4 cm in diameter; appear only after good rain
in spring, usually September to November. Fruits: Bilobate and the
very deep constriction between the lobes make it appear to be two
separate fruits; each lobe up to 1,5 x 1,9 cm; fruit stalks short and
very thick; yellow when ripe (February/March); exocarp thin;
edible mesocarp thin and firm and encloses a single seed; fruits
persist on the plants for a very long time and eventually become
black and scabrid. General: Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’); not
very hard; differentiated in yellow-brown sapwood and buff-brown
heartwood; fine textured and produces a smooth finish; wood-
borers cause discoloration of the timber; fruits are eaten by man
and beast; leaves utilized by a variety of browsers such as the
elephant, kudu, giraffe and impala; slow grower; probably not frost
resistant.

157
462 Grewia monticola Silver raisin

Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with a sparse, spreading crown and

characteristically long, lax, drooping branchlets and a short,
crooked stem; old stems grey-brown and the bark divides into
longitudinal ridges. Distribution: Wide-spread in the park but
nowhere in dense stands; more often on stony areas or sandy soil;
largest specimens in the Pretoriuskop area as well as near Punda
Maria. Leaves: Simple, about oval/oblong but asymmetrically
cordate at the base; about 5,5 x 2,5 cm, soft, slightly shiny, rough
and finely pubescent above and buff-grey to white and
conspicuously tomentose underneath; margins irregularly dentate
except near the base; borne symmetrically alternately on the twigs.
Flowers: Small (2 cm diameter), yellow; borne in clusters or solitary
in leaf axils; appear after first good spring rains or sometimes as late
as February. Fruits: Deeply bilobate; each lobe subglobose, up to 8
mm in diameter; sometimes only one lobe develops; pale to yellow-
brown when ripe; fruits and stalks distinctly hairy when young; first
fruits ripen in February/March. General: Wood heavy (air-dry
960 kg/m’), not very hard; sapwood pale brown and heartwood dark
brown; fine-textured; extensively damaged by wood borers; fruits
edible, sweet, eaten by birds and primates; leaves utilized by
browsers; slow grower; probably not cold resistant.

158
467 Adansonia digitata Baobab
Large (up to 25 m), deciduous tree with a bare, unusually thick (10
mm diameter), relatively short stem and widely spreading, rather
sparse, roundish crown; stems grey-brown to red-brown, smooth,
often deeply fluted and dented. Distribution: From a few kilometres
north of Tshokwane up to the Limpopo; very rare in the southern
areas. Leaves: Initially simple (seedlings) and later palmately
compound with five (seldom seven) leaflets; borne close together at
twig terminals; leaflets on average 10 x 4cm, usually oblong/elliptic,
marginally entire, sparsely pubescent but less so in older leaflets.
Flowers: Large (12 cm diameter) with snow-white, waxy, crumpled
petals and a central column consisting of fused stamens through
which the style protrudes; hang upside down; appear
October/November. Fruits: Large (up to 24 x 12 cm), ovoid to
subglobose, buff-grey, tomentose, hard; contain large number of
seeds embedded in a very light, floury pulp; seeds bean-shaped,
about 1,2 x 0,9 cm, dark brown, hard and smooth; ripen April/May.
General: Wood soft, very light (air-dry 320 kg/m’), spongy, fibrous,
undifferentiated, pale brown, worthless except for paper
production; some trees are hollow; according to information
available at present, a tree with a circumference of 30 m should be
more than 4 000 years old; bulbs at the root terminals are dried,
ground and used to make porridge; pulp of the fruit makes a
refreshing drink; the seeds and leaves are eaten by man; the fruit
pulp contains ascorbic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid and the bark
adansonin; fruits are eaten by primates and leaves as well as stems
by elephants; seedcoat (testa) very hard; drought resistant; sensitive
to cold conditions.

159
469 Dombeya cymosa Natal wild pear
Small (8 m), deciduous tree with sparse, formless crown and
comparatively long, bent stem; old stems fairly rough since the dark
grey bark breaks up more or less vertically into flat ridges and
blocks. Distribution: Very rare in the Kruger Park; limited to
ravines in the Malelane and Pafuri areas as well as the Lebombo
range. Leaves: Simple, about cordate with a long tapering point,
sometimes nearly trilobate, up to 9 x 7 cm, dark green, slightly
rough, very thin; small patches of hair occur in axils of veins on the
underside; margins conspicuously crenate; borne spirally around
the twigs. Flowers: Small (1 cm in diameter), snow-white, in sparse
racemes in leat axils; peduncles very thin and glabrous (see also
D. kirkii); appear very late in the season (February to April).
Fruits: Exceptionally small (about 4 mm in diameter), globose, pale
brown, hairy, drop off the tree with the other floral parts during
the winter months. General: Wood heavy (air-dry 991 kg/m’),
undifferentiated, brown, finely textured, produces a smooth finish:
damage by wood-borers causes discoloration to nearly black;
excellent for ornamental woodwork; leaves only sparingly utilized
by game; probably slow growing and sensitive to cold conditions.

160
471 Dombeya rotundifolia var. rotundifolia Common wild pear
Small (7 m), deciduous tree; crown sparse to fairly dense, round but
mostly formless; stem crooked, short, often bears a few lateral
twigs; old stems dark grey; bark breaks up into irregular blocks.
Distribution: Found on granitic, rhyolitic as well as sandy soils;
especially abundant in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area; also on the
Lebombo and near Punda Maria. Leaves: Simple; very young leaves
red-brown with V-shaped bases and round, dentate apices, later
nearly round with cordate bases; broader than long (5,5 x 7,5 cm),
hard, rough, with conspicuous venation; midrib and six secondary
veins originate in the base; arranged spirally around new
branchlets. Flowers: Up to 2 cm diameter, mostly white but
sometimes pink; borne in dense racemes near twig terminals;
appear before the leaves in winter or spring (July to September).
Fruits: Very small (up to 6 mm in diameter), round, pale brown,
hairy; shed with the rest of the floral parts during summer. General:
Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), tough, undifferentiated, yellow-
brown to brown, finely textured; when living wood damaged by
wood-borers it becomes black; considered to be one of the best
timbers for wagon building (hubs, felloes, spokes), also for
furniture, ornaments and implement-handles; extracts of the bark,
roots and leaves are used to treat stomach ailments and headaches
and even as a tonic; inner-bark fibres are used to plait cordage;
utilization of the plant by game limited; grows very fast (3 m in five
years); resistant to moderate cold.

161
475 Sterculia murex Lowveld chestnut
Smallish (10 m), deciduous tree with short, bare, mostly crooked
stem and long, bare branches; crown widely spreading, sparse,
formless to roundish; young branchlets pubescent; old stems grey to
dark grey; bark grooved longitudinally and cracked crosswise
forming almost rectangular sections. Distribution: Prefers good
drainage and relatively high rainfall and is therefore limited to the
Pretoriuskop/Malelane area of the park; mostly found on the ridges
and koppies. Leaves: Palmately compound with five to nine leaflets;
leaflets oblong, taper to both ends, up to 19 x 4,5 cm, pubescent,
rough, marginally entire; petioles exceptionally long (up to 22 cm)
and pubescent; borne spirally and close together on new growth.
Flowers: Borne in large panicles (up to 20 cm in length) near the
twig terminals; opened flowers resemble shallow bells and are 3 cm
in diameter, yellow-green on the outside and red-speckled on the
inside; the five petals (actually sepals) sharply recurved; most
flowers functionally male only; appear early in August on leafless
trees. Fruits: In groups of two to five (sometimes one only); roughly
ovoid with a long, thin point, up to 20 x 10 cm; exocarp hard, green,
woody, covered by long (up to 3 cm), blunt, hairy spines; split
longitudinally when ripe; seeds large, black; fruit pulp absent but
contains masses of spinules around the seeds and against the inner
wall; ripen in midsummer. General: Wood soft, light (air-dry
630 kg/m*), undifferentiated, pale brown, coarsely textured;
germination takes very long; growth rate rather fast; not frost
resistant; outstanding decorative and shade tree.

162
477 Sterculia rogersii Common star-chestnut
Small (6 m), deciduous (leaves turn dark yellow) tree with
exceptionally thick, seemingly succulent-like stem which usually
sub-divides near the ground; very sparse, moderately spreading
crown; stems smooth; brown-red bark peels off in paper-thin flakes
to reveal yellow to yellowy-green, glossy bark. Distribution: Occurs
throughout the park but very rare; fairly common in Pafuri area;
apparently prefers stony areas. Leaves: Simple, cordate, three-
lobed and sometimes five at the apex, up to 6 x 5 cm, thin, soft,
finely pubescent; midrib and six secondary veins originate in the
leaf base; borne on long, new branchlets or short lateral twigs.
Flowers: Borne on twig terminals on short, lateral twigs and even on
thick branches; shallowly campanulate with tops of petals (actually
sepals) sharply recurved, red-green outside and yellowy-green with
red, vertical stripes inside; appear for months on end, sometimes
starting May, but mostly July/August, to September. Fruits: One to
five-lobed (stellate); lobes (fruits) subsessile, roughly ovoid, up to
8 cm long, slightly curved upwards, compressed on upper surface,
taper to a long, thin point; pubescent; split open on upper surface
when ripe (September to February/March); seeds arranged in two
rows between myriads of spiny hairs; seeds ovoid, dull leaden-grey
with small, orange-coloured pseudo-arils. General: Wood very soft,
light (air-dry 540 kg/m’), undifferentiated; buff-brown, very
fibrous; seeds germinate very slowly; grows slowly; probably not
cold resistant; blossoming trees with fruits in all stages of
development often found on the same tree; outstanding decorative
tree.

163
483 Ochna pulchra Peeling plane
Small (8 m— elsewhere bigger), deciduous tree with a single, mostly
short, bent stem and poorly branched, spreading, sparse, roundish
crown; twigs terminate in long, dark brown buds; old stems smooth,
creamy-white and partly covered by thin, hard, grey-brown, curled
flakes of peeling bark. Distribution: Limited to the sandveld areas
in the north of the park, particularly Punda Maria and Nwambiya
(south of Pafuri). Leaves: Simple, borne close together on new
twigs; young leaves brown-green to red-brown and mature leaves
pale green to dark green, exceptionally shiny; broadly oval, 10 x 5
cm, hard, pergamentaceous, marginally entire or upper third of
margins finely serrated. Flowers: Relatively small (2 cm in
diameter), in dense racemes; petals pale yellow and caducous (last
only a few days); persistent sepals initially opened widely and
yellowy-green but later bright pink enclosing the developing fruits;
appear August to October, seldom before the first spring rain.
Fruits: Borne in pendent clusters (one or two per stalk), 1,5 x 1 cm,
exceptionally shiny, initially pale green and at maturity pitch-black;
ripen in November/December. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-
dry 750 kg/m’), very brittle, undifferentiated, pale brown, very
finely textured; mesocarp edible but unpalatable; seeds rich in oil:
plant not utilized by game; seeds only germinate when fresh:
transplanting normally unsuccessful; grows slowly; not cold
resistant; recommended as decorative plant.

164
486 Garcinia livingstonei Lowveld mangosteen
Medium-large (12 m), evergreen tree with quite a long, bare stem
and a very dense, spreading, roundish crown characterized by a few
long branches (shoots) towering above the rest; new branchlets in
verticils of three; old bark dark grey to black and sub-divided into
small, regular sections; twigs and leaves contain yellow latex.
Distribution: Throughout the park on riverbanks, flood plains next
to rivers, in dense ravines and sometimes in rocky areas; can be
seen along the Timbavati (Roodewal camp) and at Pafuri. Leaves:
Borne in verticils of three; simple, mostly elliptic, vary in size
(mostly 8 x 4 cm); young leaves blood-red and soft and old ones
thick, very hard, brittle, dark green, shiny, glabrous, marginally
entire or irregularly sinuate; veins yellow-green. Flowers: Very
small, pale to yellow-green, borne in groups in the leaf axils; male
flowers resemble pincushions and bisexual flowers green with the
shiny ovaries the dominant component; the two sexes borne on
separate trees; contain large quantities of nectar; appear between
September and November. Fruits: Asymmetrically globose to ovoid
berries, about 2,5 cm in diameter, orange-red when ripe; exocarp
thin, glossy; mesocarp (fruit pulp) firm and contains a viscid latex;
normally one, sometimes two, seeds per fruit; first fruits ripen
November. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 850 kg/m’),
fairly hard, undifferentiated, pale brown; fruits edible and palatable
but the latex is unpleasant; an alcoholic beverage produced from
the fruits; fresh seeds germinate satisfactorily; easily transplanted
but grows slowly; probably not frost resistant.

165
488 Warburgia salutaris Pepper-bark tree
Small (8 m, elsewhere up to 15 m), evergreen tree with relatively
short, slightly crooked stem and poorly spreading, sparse, formless
crown and long, bare, lax, drooping branchlets; older branchlets
have conspicuous, large, pale brown, corky lenticels; old stems very
rough; bark longitudinally grooved and cracked crosswise into small
blocks; brown-black on the ridges and pale brown lenticels
conspicuous in the grooves. Distribution: Only a few specimens
have thus far been found, mainly on the sandstone ridges north-
west of Punda Maria. Leaves: Borne spirally around and at the tips
of the long, thin twigs; new leaves, pale to blue-green, appear from
February onwards after which old ones are shed; simple, narrowly
oblong, up to 10 x 2,7 cm, dark green, shiny, glabrous, marginally
entire; very small, translucent dots (probably glands) occur in the
leaf blade. Flowers: Small (1 cm in diameter), green on the outside
and dirty-yellow on the inside; borne solitary in the axils of the
oldest leaves or on the bare twigs; appear in May. Fruits: Slightly
longer than broad (4 x 3cm), asymmetric, almost pear-shaped;
initially glossy green and at maturity (December/January) pale
purple with a whitish bloom easily removed by rubbing; other
observers maintain that they are black and wrinkled when ripe.
General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 860 kg/m’),
undifferentiated, off-white to biscuit-coloured, fairly finely
textured; highly valued medicinal plant, infusions of the bark and
roots used as purgatives and for treatment of flu, chest ailments and
malaria; bark contains tannin and mannitol; baboons eat the fruits;
probably grows rather fast; not cold resistant.

166
5O 1 Homalium dentatum var. novum Brown ironwood

Moderately large (15 m), semi-deciduous to deciduous tree which is

slender with a sparse and poorly spreading crown and a long,
straight, bare and mostly dented stem in dense ravines; in open
bushveld crown development is much better; new twigs are
pubescent; old stems are pale grey and bark peels off in thin,
irregular sections. Distribution: Mostly confined to the koppies and
ridges between Pretoriuskop and Malelane; one specimen was
found next to the Luvuvhu River. Leaves: Simple, broadly oval to
ovate (even roundish), normally 8 x 5 cm; young leaves red-brown
and conspicuously pubescent, old ones green, faintly glossy,
covered by soft hairs, soft with dentate margins; bundles of hairs
occur in the corners formed by the midrib and secondary veins on
the underside. Flowers: Very small, white, borne in pendent
clusters in the leaf axils; only appear after sufficient rain during the
growing season, November to March. Fruits: Exceptionally small
(3 mm diameter), brown; ripe between midsummer and autumn.
General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’); hard, brittle;
undifferentiated, pale biscuit-coloured, finely textured; produces a
very smooth finish; uses unknown; apparently not used by man or
beast: leaves sometimes extensively damaged by insects during
summer; apparently grows rather fast and probably not cold
resistant.

167
523 Galpinia transvaalica Transvaal privet
Smallish (10 m); evergreen, usually multi-stemmed tree with a
sparse but twiggy crown; stems mostly crooked; young stems
exceptionally pale grey and smooth; old ones dark grey to black and
rough; bark cracks up into small blocks. Distribution: Widespread
in the park but, with the exception of the Malelane mountains and
southern part of the Lebombo, very rare. Leaves: Borne in
decussate pairs; simple, between 2 x 1 cm and 6 x 3 cm, about
elliptic/ovate with the apex sharply recurved and hard; conduplicate
upwards, deeply undulate and marginally entire; young leaves red
to red-brown and old ones dark green; small, but conspicuous knob
(gland) on the midrib at the apex. Flowers: Snow-white, 6 x 3 mm,
borne in compact, erect, terminal racemes; petals crenate;
persistent calyx greenish-white and later brown; peduncles
rectangular; only appear every second or third year, sometimes in
October but mainly in January/February. Fruits: In compact
clusters; fruits globose (5 mm in diameter), red-brown to black with
a hard exocarp; enclosed by persistent calyx; pale brown seeds are
winged; reach maturity in autumn but persist on the trees till the
next summer. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’),
fairly hard, undifferentiated, pale to buff-brown, finely textured,
suitable for lathe-work; utilized by kudu, elephant and other
browsers; not used by man; slow grower; apparently drought
resistant but cannot withstand severe cold; beautiful decorati
ve
tree.

168
532 Combretum apiculatum subsp. apiculatum Red
bushwillow
Smallish (up to 9 m), deciduous (leaves turn brown-red) tree with a
bare, shortish, slightly crooked stem and a sparse, spreading crown;
stunted trees always, and flourishing trees often, multi-stemmed;
trunks sub-divide fairly low down; old bark grey to greyish-black
and cracks into small, flat, irregular blocks. Distribution: Apart
from mopani, probably the most abundant tree in the Kruger Park;
occur on granitic and rhyolitic soils as well as the rocky areas on the
basalt plains adjacent to the Lebombo; biggest specimens south of
the Olifants River. Leaves: Mostly borne in decussate pairs; they
are simple, elliptic with twisted tips, on average 6,5 x 3,5 cm, thin,
hard, marginally entire, glossy, pale yellow-green; bundles of hair
occur in shallow depressions in the corners formed by the midrib
and secondary veins. Flowers: Florets borne in axillary, cylindrical
spikes (3 x 2. cm); flower buds sometimes reddish-purple; florets
pale yellow-green, very small, fragrant; appear with the new leaves
in spring (sometimes August) or as late as November. Fruits: Borne
in clusters; four-winged, 2,5 x 2 cm, generally elliptic; wings firm,
glabrous, ribbed crosswise, thin, initially green, then red-green and
brown when mature; seeds narrowly ovoid with four longitudinal
ridges; ripen in late summer/autumn; often persist until next
flowering season. General: Wood very hard, one of the heaviest in
the park (air-dry 1 230 kg/m’); heartwood dark brown to black and
sapwood pale to yellow-brown; seeds are poisonous, cause
prolonged hiccuping; good fodder plant for domestic stock as well
as game; drought resistant; grows slowly; not frost resistant.

169
536 Combretum erythrophyllum River bushwillow
Medium-large (up to 12 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow to red-
brown), erect, mostly multi-stemmed or low-branching tree with
fairly dense, spreading, formless crown with long, lax branchlets;
stems often crooked, dented, grey-brown with a yellow tinge and
fairly smooth. Distribution: Mainly in the Sabie River west of
Lower Sabie rest camp; a few isolated specimens also discovered in
the Luvuvhu River; also in other rivers outside the park. Leaves:
Borne in pairs or verticils of three or four on new growth; they are
simple, oblong/lanceolate with long, thin, narrow tips, up to
10 x 3. cm, initially very pale green; marginally entire, thin, slightly
pubescent underneath, especially when young; bundles of hair
occur in small, oblong indentations in the axils between the midribs
and secondary veins. Flowers: Inflorescences small (2 x 1 cm),
fragrant, composed of a large number of small, yellow-green
florets; they are borne solitary in leaf axils; flower buds dark green,
sometimes purple; stamens relatively long; appear late winter or
spring (August/September). Fruits: Borne in dense. pendent
clusters; four-winged, subglobose (2 cm in diameter) and pale buff-
brown when mature; central part pubescent, wings soft and
glabrous; fruit stalks also pubescent; seeds thin, ovoid with four
longitudinal ridges; brown; ripen in summer, persistent. General:
Wood fairly soft (air-dry 670 kg/m’), undifferentiated, yellow when
freshly cut and buff-yellow when dry, tough, coarsely grained,
produces a rough finish; used in the production of a variety of
household articles; seeds are poisonous and cause prolonged
hiccuping, nevertheless used to de-worm dogs; leaves utilized by
giraffe and elephant; grows very fast, 5 m in three years; frost
resistant.
170
53/ Combretum molle Velvet bushwillow

Smallish (up to 9 m, elsewhere higher), deciduous (leaves turn

yellow to red-brown) tree with a relatively long, bare stem and
poorly spreading, fairly dense crown; stems grey-black and the bark
breaks up into very small, irregular blocks which peel off as thin
flakes. Distribution: Limited to the koppies, hills and ridges in the
south-western area (Pretoriuskop/Malelane), the Lebombo range
and the Punda Maria sandveld. Leaves: Arranged in opposite pairs;
simple, sometimes big (11 x 5 cm) but mostly much smaller, vary
from lanceolate/elliptic to suborbicular, conspicuously pubescent;
young leaves red-brown; lower surfaces covered by a layer of small
scales; velvety above and slightly rough underneath; marginally
entire. Flowers: Fragrant, very small, yellowish, closely packed in
oblong, cylindrical spikes (5 x 1,5 cm); normally appear September/
October. Fruits: The four-winged fruits are borne in clusters;
subglobose (2 x 1,8 cm), glabrous, but covered by yellow to brown
scales; mature fruits red-brown with yellow tinge and old ones
brown; ripen about March/April. General: Wood fairly hard (air-
dry 860 kg/m’), undifferentiated, dirty yellow, durable; seldom
used: extracts of the leaves and roots are used for the treatment of
wounds, snake bite, constipation, stomach ailments and high fever;
seeds probably poisonous; red dye obtained from the leaves; grows
fairly fast and sensitive to extremely cold conditions.

171
538 Combretum hereroense Russet bushwillow
Small (8 m), deciduous tree with medium-dense, sometimes
roundish crown and with one or more short, crooked stems and only
a few branches; long, straight shoots sprout from the branches; old
bark pale grey to black, rough, longitudinally sub-divided; peels off
in long, narrow strips which sometimes crack crosswise.
Distribution: Throughout the park, more often along rivers and
streams and in low-lying areas such as brackish flats; also shows
slight preference for rocky situations. Leaves: Borne in decussate
pairs on short, new growth; smallest of local Combretums
(3 x 2 cm); elliptic, dark green above and pale brown to brownish-
green below, brown colour due to small scales: marginally entire;
small protruberances (above) and indentations (below) in corners
between midrib and secondary veins, no hair bundles present.
Flowers: Fragrant, very small, white on the inside, closely packed in
short, cylindrical to globose pincushion spikes of 1 to 2 cm long;
appear before or with new leaves (end August to October) on rusty-
brown lateral twigs, seldom in the leaf axils. Fruits: Borne in
clusters; four-winged, small, slightly broader than long (2,3 x 2 cm);
wings pale brown and central part dark brown, covered with
scales;
seeds ovoid with four longitudinal ridges; reach maturity in
midsummer. General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 900 kg/m’),
undifferentiated, yellow-brown to brown, very hard, tough,
durable, often has a twisted grain, produces a smooth finish,
formerly used as struts in mines; no other uses known; seeds
probably poisonous; browsers such as kudu, steenbok, elephant
and
giraffe utilize the leaves; grows slowly; not cold resistant.

V2
539 Combretum imberbe Leadwood
Large (up to 20 m) deciduous tree with wide-spreading, rather
sparse, roundish to slightly umbrella-shaped crown and a single,
long, thick, bare stem; lateral twigs arranged in decussate pairs and
are firm, hard, sometimes sharp; old stems exceptionally pale grey,
nearly white; bark breaks up into small, irregular blocks which
appear to be arranged symmetrically. Distribution: Throughout the
park; mostly in low-lying areas along rivers and streams but on
basalt (Lebombo flats) everywhere in association with knobthorn
and marula. Leaves: Arranged in decussate pairs, only on new
growth; simple, pale silvery grey-green when young and later grey-
green; elliptic, fairly small (3,5 x 1,7 cm), glabrous, marginally
entire; covered by scales, especially when young. Flowers: Small,
fragrant, yellow-green, packed in axillary spikes of 5 x il=) Gin
spikes seldom branched; flowers appear a long time after the leaves,
November/December. Fruits: The four-winged fruits borne solitary
or in small groups; initially pale to yellow-green and at maturity
pale buff to yellowish; young fruits ovoid and mature ones
subglobose, small (1,5 cm in diameter); scales pale grey, seeds
brown, ovoid with four longitudinal ridges; ripen in autumn; fall
shortly after ripening. General: Wood exceptionally hard and heavy
(air-dry 1 200 kg/m’), very finely grained; heartwood dark brown to
black and narrow sapwood yellow; very difficult to work but
suitable for ornamental work as well as furniture; very durable;
excellent firewood; can probably live for thousands of years; leaves
are utilized by browsers; seeds probably poisonous; grows very
slowly; fairly frost resistant.

173
541 Combretum collinum subsp. gazense Rhodesian
bushwillow
Smallish (9 m), deciduous tree with a spreading, fairly dense, more
or less round crown; stems usually short, bare, often spirally twisted
and crooked; young branchlets silvery hairy; old stems dark grey
and bark sub-divided into longitudinal ridges. Distribution: Only in
the Pretoriuskop vicinity as well as the Punda Maria sandveld (some
specimens at the entrance gate); especially abundant in the
northern area. Leaves: The simple leaves borne in more or less
decussate pairs; elongated oval, on average 9 x 4cm but sometimes
up to 12 x 6,4 cm; on the under side covered by a tomentose layer
but upper surface less hairy; buff-green above and off-white
beneath, marginally entire; petioles pubescent. Flowers: Usually
appear with the new leaves or even before the old ones are shed
(July to October); small, predominantly pale yellow, borne in
solitary, cylindrical, axillary spikes (in one instance spikes in
racemes). Fruits: Borne in pendent clusters: four-winged, very dark
brown, more or less ovoid, slightly longer than broad (5 x 4,5
cm),
slightly rough, covered by scales; wings not ribbed; seeds ovoid
with
four longitudinal ribs; ripen in late summer. General: Wood like
that of subsp. suluense; according to present information not
utilized by man; seeds probably poisonous; leaves utilized
by
elephant and kudu; grows slowly and probably not very drought
or
frost resistant.

174
541 2 Combretum collinum subsp. suluense Weeping
bushwillow

Medium-large (up to 15 m, mostly smaller), deciduous (leaves turn

yellow) tree with a quite dense, upright and slightly spreading
crown; lowest branches, and terminals of branchlets, pendent;
stems mostly short, crooked and screened by shoots sprouting from
the base; young twigs covered by brown hairs; old stems pale grey-
brown and fairly rough; bark sporadically peels off in irregular
sections, does not form longitudinal ridges as a rule. Distribution:
Throughout the western half of the park (granite) as well as on the
Lebombo (rhyolite); only abundant in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane
and Punda Maria areas. Leaves: Borne in more or less decussate
pairs; simple; vary greatly as regards form and size, from
oblong/lanceolate to elongate ovate/broadly oval and from 8x4cm
to 20 x 12 cm; pale green, fairly shiny above, covered by scales
underneath, marginally entire; bundles of hair occur in the axils of
the veins on the underside; petioles glabrous when old. Flowers:
Small, predominantly yellow; closely packed into solitary, axillary,
cylindrical spikes; they usually appear with the new leaves (August
to October). Fruits: Borne in pendent clusters; four-winged, dark
brown, roughly ovoid (5 x 4,5 cm), slightly rough, covered with
scales; wings not ribbed; seeds elongated ovoid with four
longitudinal ridges; ripen January to April. General: Wood hard,
fairly heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m), undifferentiated, yellow-brown to
brown; leaves eaten by browsing wild animals; growth rate fairly
poor; probably not frost resistant.
 hie:

545 Combretum woodii False forest bushwillow

Small (7 m), deciduous (leaves turn yellow to red-brown); fairly

dense, roundish crown and relatively long, bare, crooked stem;
twigs glabrous; stems and branches exceptionally smooth and pale
grey, nearly white; bark seldom peels off in curled strips.
Distribution: Only on Ship mountain near Pretoriuskop and
possibly on some of the other hills in the south of the park. Leaves:
Borne in decussate pairs; simple, oblong/elliptic, mostly about 8 x 4
cm; tapers into a long, narrow apex; always conduplicate in a V-
shape upwards; marginally entire and glabrous; upper side smooth
and without scales, under side slightly rough with scattered scales.
Flowers: Very small, dark reddish-purple at the base (calyx) and
white to dirty yellow inside (corolla); large number of florets per
cylindrical, solitary, axillary spike; spikes up to 3 x 1 cm but mostly
shorter and roughly globose; appear September/October. Fruits:
Borne in clusters; four-winged, small (2 x 1,5 cm), elliptic, glabrous
>
sparsely scaly; young fruits pale yellow turning partially reddish-
purple; when mature the central part is red-brown and wings pale
yellow-brown; seeds ovoid with four longitudinal ridges; ripen
March/April. General: Wood resembles that of Combretum
erythrophyllum but slightly heavier (air-dry 770 kg/m’),
undifferentiated, dirty yellow, tough; easy to work and a reasonably
smooth product can be expected; not used for any purpose; no
information available with regard to medicinal use or utilization by
animals; grows fairly fast; not cold resistant.

176
546 Combretum zeyheri Large-fruited bushwillow
Small to medium-sized (up to 12 m), deciduous (leaves turn pale
yellow) tree; mostly slender with meagrely spreading, rather sparse
crown and a relatively short, crooked stem; often multi-stemmed,;
new shoots pubescent; young branches and stems nearly white and
old stems grey to grey-brown; bark fairly smooth but rough patches
occur where it peels off in small, irregular blocks. Distribution:
Everywhere, with the exception of the Lebombo plains (basalt) and
brackish flats, abundant, thus occur on granite, sand and rhyolite;
especially prominent in the Pretoriuskop/Skukuza/Malelane area.
Leaves: More or less in decussate pairs on new growth; simple; first
leaves of the season smaller than the rest; on average 8,5 x 4cm,
oblong/oval, fairly hard, conduplicate in shallow V-shape,
yellowish-green to dark green, glossy; young leaves pubescent but
old ones glabrous or slightly hairy; marginally entire. Flowers:
Fragrant, small, greenish-yellow, packed in cylindrical spikes of
5 x 2 cm; spikes solitary in leaf axils; appear with the new leaves in
August/September. Fruits: Mostly in clusters; subglobose, four-
winged, largest of the local Combretums (up to 6 cm diameter);
colouring changes from bright green to pale yellow-brown;
glabrous, slightly rough, shiny; wings ribbed and scales unobtrusive;
seeds ovoid with four longitudinal grooves; ripen in March/April
and some frequently persist until the next flowering season.
General: Freshly cut wood bright yellow; when dry pale yellow;
medium-heavy (air-dry 750 kg/m’), fairly hard and tough; coarsely
grained; leaves poorly utilized by game; grows slowly and most
probably not cold resistant.

177
547 Pteleopsis myrtifolia Myrtle bushwillow
Large (up to 15 m), deciduous tree with a wide-spreading, fairly
dense, round crown with thin, lax, pendent branchlets, and a bare,
single, fairly long stem; often occurs as a multi-stemmed shrub;
stem nearly white (sun) to dark grey or black (shade); bark
shallowly grooved lengthwise with ridges joining and separating
back and forth. Distribution: Only in the north of the park,
Nwambiya sandveld and Punda Maria area. Leaves: Mostly
alternate and only on new growth; simple, very small (3 x 1,3 cm),
oval, smooth, glabrous above and inconspicuously pubescent
below, marginally entire; petioles very thin and covered by tiny
hairs. Flowers: Very small, white, fragrant; borne in clusters at the
terminals of short lateral shoots; mostly bisexual but sometimes
male only; appear October/November, but sometimes as late as
February. Fruits: Borne in pendent clusters; small (2 x 1 cm), ovoid
to globose, mostly two but sometimes three and rarely four-winged;
glabrous; initially pale green and later pale biscuit-coloured; wings
thin, ribbed, pergamentaceous; usually ripen in March/April and
some persist on the tree until the following spring. General: Wood
heavy (air-dry 990 kg/m’), hard, pale brown with reddish tinge and
occasional pale and glossy blotches, finely grained; produces a
smooth finish; not insect proof; uses by man unknown; leaves eaten
by elephant and eland; slow grower; probably not cold resistant.

178
549 Terminalia phanerophlebia Lebombo clusterleat
Small (8 m), slender, deciduous tree or multi-stemmed shrub;
crown moderately spreading, sparse, formless and stem relatively
long, bare and usually crooked; stems grey to dark grey and fairly
rough since the bark divides into flat ridges which separate and join
up back and forth. Distribution: Only in stony areas and mostly in
and along depressions and ravines; limited to the Malelane
mountains, koppies near Pretoriuskop and the Lebombo. Leaves:
Borne spirally around and at the tips of the branchlets; simple,
obovate to spatulate, broadest near the apex, up to9x 4,5 cm,
slightly rough, initially silver-haired on both sides; marginally entire
or sometimes finely crenate along the widest part of the leaf; small,
pale brown protruberances sometimes occur on the secondary veins
on the under side; transparent dots usually occur in the leaf blade.
Flowers: Small (4 mm in diameter), sometimes bright red in the bud
stage, white when open; they are borne in long, thin (10 x 1,5 cm),
sparse, cylindrical, axillary spikes; nauseatingly sweetly scented;
flowering time strongly influenced by rainfall and can thus be any
time between October and February. Fruits: Borne in clusters;
more or less oval (3 x 2 cm); the central, oval-shaped part thick and
hard, encircled by a continuous, thin, hard, ribbed wing; young
fruits buff-green and finely pubescent; hairs disappear at a later
stage and the colour changes to brown or red-brown at maturity;
ripen in late summer or winter and some fruits persist until spring.
General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 910 kg/m’), hard,
undifferentiated, brown, coarsely grained; leaves utilized by
elephants; grows fairly slowly; probably not cold resistant.

179
550 Terminalia prunioides Thorny cluster-leaf
Shrub or smallish (9 m), deciduous to semi-deciduous tree with a
fairly spreading, particularly twiggy, roundish and medium-dense
crown; stems are mostly crooked and low-branching; new twigs
finely pubescent and the terminals thicker than the previous year’s
growth; lateral twigs very hard, firm and thorn-like; old stems rough
and bark sub-divided longitudinally into ridges, pale to dark grey
but brown in the grooves. Distribution: Throughout the park and on
just about all soil types; it seems to prefer soils with a high clay
content, like the brackish flats, and stony areas; abundant in the
dense bush along the Sabie River. Leaves: Simple, broadly obovate,
thus broader above the middle, small (up to 3,5 x 1,5 cm),
unobtrusively hairy, dull, feel slightly tomentose, marginally entire;
borne spirally and close together on short, lateral twigs. Flowers:
Small (9 mm in diameter), bright red in the bud stage, later white;
packed into sparse, cylindrical spikes; spikes up to 6,5 x 2.cm,
axillary; exceptionally rich in nectar and has a nauseating odour;
only appear after good rains, between September and February and
often more than once per season. Fruits: Borne in pendent clusters;
consists of a hard, thickened, oval, central part encircled bya
pergamentaceous, undulating wing; whole fruit about 4,5 x 3 cm:
glabrous; initially pale green, then reddish-purple (especially on the
sunny side) and eventually pale brown to red-brown: first fruits
ripen in February and the last ones in winter; persist on the trees for
a long period. General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 120 kg/m’), hard,
tough, undifferentiated, brown; leaves utilized by browsing game;
grows very slowly, has a tendency for shrubby growth; drought
resistant but cannot withstand very cold conditions.

180
55 1 Terminalia sericea Silver cluster-leaf

Sometimes large (up to 20 m) and with a spreading crown, but

mostly a smallish (8 m), slender tree with moderately spreading,
sparse crown and a short, bare, fairly low-branching stem;
deciduous; new twigs silvery hairy; two year-old twigs are thicker
than the older wood directly underneath; stems pale to dark grey;
bark sub-divides longitudinally into ridges which connect up back
and forth. Distribution: Limited to deep, sandy soils occurring in
the western half of the park (granite), the Waterberg sandstone of
Punda Maria, Nwambiya and Pumbe sandveld areas as well as on
the Holkrans sandstone between the basalt (east) and granite
(west); especially abundant (dominant) in the Pretoriuskop area.
Leaves: Simple, narrowly oval/lanceolate, about 10 x 2,5. cm;
initially silvery hairy but later glabrous on the upper side;
marginally entire; small knobs (swellings) often occur on both sides
of the midrib near the leaf base; borne spirally around and at the
twig terminals. Flowers: Small (4 mm in diameter), dirty white to
yellowish; nauseatingly odorous; packed into solitary, cylindrical
(6x 1,5 cm), axillary spikes; normally appear October/November.
Fruits: Borne in clusters; more or less oval (3,5 x 2 cm); central part
hard, thickened and encircled by a thin, hard, pergamentaceous
wing; initially buff-green and finely pubescent but later glabrous
and pinkish and at maturity pale brown; ripen in March/April.
(Pod-like fruits develop as a result of insect activities). General:
Freshly cut wood yellow; dry wood differentiated in dark dirty
yellow sapwood and large, pale brown heartwood; fairly heavy (air-
dry 880 kg/m’) and hard; leaves are utilized by domestic stock and
game; does not germinate readily; grows slowly; fairly drought and
_ cold resistant.
181
555 Syzygium cordatum Water berry
Medium-large (up to 15 m), evergreen tree with a dense, spreading,
roundish crown and short, often crooked to long, bare, straight
stem; young branchlets glabrous, rectangular; old bark slightly
rough, breaks up into irregular blocks which seldom peel off; nearly
white (sunny side) to almost black (shade). Distribution:
Throughout the park near permanent water; especially abundant in
the Sabie River; in the Pretoriuskop area also far from water.
Leaves: Simple, broadly oval to ovate, on average 8 x 5 cm, cordate
at the base, glabrous, firm, blue-green, marginally entire, covered
by a thin, grey-white, waxy layer; petioles extremely short (2 mm);
borne in decussate pairs. Flowers: Mainly,white, resemble powder-
puffs, rich in nectar, malodorous; borne in terminal clusters: mostly
appear September/October, sometimes as early as August. Fruits:
More or less ovoid berries, 2 x 1 cm, elsewhere bigger, glabrous,
shiny; change colour from green through red and dark purple to
black; a thin exocarp encloses a firm, edible mesocarp and a single,
green seed; borne in terminal clusters; first fruits ripen when the
trees are still in flower, around October. General: Wood brown
with reddish tinge, medium-hard and medium-heavy (air-dry 750
kg/m’), finely grained; easy to work and produces a fairly smooth
finish; exceptionally durable after proper treatment; pulverized
bark used as fish poison; colours the water blue: kills only small
fishes and remains active just for a few days; fruits eaten by
primates, birds and bushpigs; leaves not utilized by game; seeds
must be planted when fresh; fairly fast growing: water loving; quite
resistant to cold,

182
557. Syzygium guineense Water pear
Medium-sized (up to 15 m), evergreen tree with a dense, spreading
crown and a long, bare, crooked or straight stem; young branchlets
rectangular, glabrous; old bark pale grey to dark grey-brown;
relatively smooth, superficially grooved and peels off sporadically in
small, angular sections. Distribution: Throughout the park next to
permanent water; only in Pretoriuskop area (high rainfall) far from
water; especially abundant in the Sabie River. Leaves: Borne in
decussate pairs; simple, oval to ovate, on average 9 x 4cm, base
cuneate, fairly thick, glossy, green to yellowish-green, marginally
entire, covered by a greyish-white, waxy layer; petioles relatively
long (up to 3 cm). Flowers: Resembles those of eucalyptus and
guava; stamens snow-white and the most prominent parts of the
flowers; contain large quantities of nectar and have a nauseatingly
sweet odour; borne in terminal clusters; buds browny-green to red-
brown; appear between August and October. Fruits: Ovoid berries
borne in clusters; roughly 2 x 1 cm; soft, thin exocarp enclose the
thin mesocarp layer and a single, green seed which is sub-divided
into two to four unequal segments; dark purple to black when ripe;
first fruits ripen while trees are still flowering (November). General:
Wood brown-grey with a red tinge, fairly heavy (air-dry 82( ) kg/m’),
hard, tough, durable after treatment; easy to work and produces a
smooth finish; suitable for furniture and as building material; fruits
edible but rather unpalatable, eaten by primates and birds; leaves
not utilized by game; seeds must be planted when fresh; grows quite
fast; fairly cold resistant; favours wet conditions.

183
562 Cussonia natalensis Rock cabbage tree
Small (7 m), evergreen tree with wide-spreading, fairly dense,
roundish crown with bare major branches and short, thick, bare
stem; branching limited; old stems grey; bark deeply longitudinally
grooved and cracked crosswise forming rectangular sections.
Distribution: Mainly occurs south of Tshokwane on koppies and
ridges, including the Lebombo; especially abundant on Ship
mountain; small number on koppies west of Shingwedzi. Leaves:
Arranged spirally and close together at twig terminals; palmate with
five lobes or points; about 15 cm in diameter; lobes oblong; leave
margins serrate; young leaves brownish-green and glossy and old
ones faintly lustrous. Flowers: Inflorescences terminal on
thickened, leafless lateral shoots; in young stage resemble medieval
weapons called maces; consist of 12 to 25 sessile, cylindrical spikes
about 12 x 2 cm; flowers small, densely packed together, yellow-
green with unpleasant odour; normally appear January/February,
sometimes from August onwards. Fruits: Small (6 mm diameter),
subglobose, fleshy, soft, pale red-purple when mature; normally
ripen from August onwards. General: Wood soft, light (air-dry
560 kg/m’), pale brown with grey blotches; small, central core soft,
coarse-grained; not used in any way; fruits eaten by birds; grows
fast; not cold resistant; decorative value high.

184
564 Cussonia spicata Common cabbage tree
Small (6 m— elsewhere up to 20 m), evergreen tree with wide-
spreading, roundish crown and bare branches with the leaves only
at the terminals; stem thick; twig terminals exceptionally thick;
stems grey; bark corky and longitudinally grooved. Distribution:
Relatively rare in the park; grows on the hills and ridges, seldom in
dense bush on the plains; mostly in the south-western area
(Pretoriuskop/Malelane). Leaves: Borne spirally and close together
at the branch terminals; more or less palmately compound with five
to 10 pinnae on a very long petiole (60 cm); pinnae consist of one to
three pairs and one terminal leaflet; each pinna up to 30 cm long;
usually partly sharply dentate, glabrous, dark green. Flowers:
Inflorescences resemble candelabra, each consisting of six to 13
thick spikes (15 x 3 cm) bearing closely packed flowers; up to 12
inflorescences per branch; flowers small, pale yellow-green,
stellate, malodorous; appear during early summer but flowers only
open February/March. Fruits: Small, roughly cylindrical, up to
1,2 cm long, fleshy, soft, purple when ripe; packed close together
much like cells of a honeycomb; reach maturity during July/August.
General: Wood very soft, light (air-dry 320 to 500 kg/m’), off-white
with a bluish tinge, coarsely grained; central core spongy; easy to
work; cannot be planed to a smooth finish; nearly useless; fruits
eaten by birds; infusions used against indispositions such as nausea,
malaria, fever and venereal diseases; grows fast; not cold resistant.

185
569 Steganotaenia araliacea Carrot tree
Smallish (8 m), deciduous tree with very sparse, spreading, formless
crown and a short, bare, crooked stem; branchlets unusually thick;
branching poor; stems smooth, yellow-green to yellow-grey; bark
peels off in thin, chartaceous flakes and only in case of very old
stems sometimes corky and cracked. Distribution: Rare in Kruger
Park; limited to hills and ridges (granite and dolerite) in the
Pretoriuskop/Malelane, the Olifants/Letaba and the Punda Maria
areas. Leaves: Borne spirally and close together at the twig
terminals; imparipinnate with a maximum of four pairs and one
terminal leaflet; up to 25 cm long and leaflets up to 5,5 x 3. cm;
leaflets slightly asymmetrically cordate to broadly elliptic, terminate
in long, acuminate apices; bright pale green, thin, soft, glossy,
glabrous; margins unevenly dentate; dentations end in relatively
long, thin mucros; petioles membraneous and laterally extended at
the bases. Flowers: Inflorescences resemble those ofthe carrot
(compound umbles); flowers very small (3 mm diameter) and pale
yellow; appear before the new leaves (July). Fruits: Flat, almost
cuneate; 1,5 x 1 cm, two-winged, pale biscuit-coloured; caducous:
ripen in October/November. General: Wood pale brown with a
small core which is even paler in colour; fairly soft (air-dry about
690 kg/m”); easy to work and produces a smooth finish; possibly
useless; fresh roots chewed as a cure for sore throats, the bark used
for treatment of asthma; elephants sometimes utilize the leaves and
bark; probably fairly fast growing and not cold resistant.

186
579 Sideroxylon inerme White milkwood

Evergreen or semi-deciduous tree which is a multi-stemmed shrub

or smallish tree (10 m) with a spreading, dense, roundish crown in
the park; stems mostly short, bare and bent; old bark grey-brown to
black, rough, divided into symmetrical, nearly rectangular blocks;
contains latex. Distribution: Very sparsely scattered in the park
south of the Olifants River on the major geological formations
(granite, basalt, rhyolite); largest specimens in stony situations.
Leaves: Spirally arranged around twigs; simple, oblong to nearly
elliptic; on average 8 x 3 cm, thick, hard, dark green, glossy and
marginally entire; young leaves covered with rust-brown hairs on
the lower surface; change colour to red or red-brown before being
shed. Flowers: Malodorous, small (5 mm diameter), yellow-green,
borne solitary or in groups in the leaf axils on new and older
branchlets; appear between September and April. Fruits: Globose
berries up to 1 cm diameter; shiny, smooth, glabrous, black when
ripe; tough exocarp encloses a relatively thick layer of pulp
containing latex and a single seed; ripen from December to July.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), pale brown, finely
grained, very hard (sideros = iron and xylon = wood); easy to work
and produces a smooth finish; durable; already used in boat
building and manufacturing of farming implements; fruits edible,
utilized by fruit-eating animals such as birds and bats; leaves seldom
eaten by game; infusions of bark are used medicinally; germination
very slow (six months); grows slowly, fairly cold resistant; well-
known Post Office tree at Mossel Bay is a white milkwood which is
several centuries old.

187
581 Bequaertiodendron magalismontanum Transvaal
milkplum
Evergreen shrub or small (8 m) tree with an unusually dense,
spreading, roundish crown and a short, bare, crooked stem; in
forest conditions up to 17 m high; young branchlets rust-brown;
stems grey, knobbly, fairly smooth; bark sub-divides into small
blocks and does not peel off; contains latex. Distribution: Rare:
only found in stony areas in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane and Punda
Maria regions. Leaves: Simple, set irregularly and spirally around
the twigs; they are obovate, on average 8 x 3 cm, dark green and
shiny above but pale brown and dull underneath: fairly thick and
hard, marginally entire; petioles brown, pubescent. Flowers: Borne
in clusters in the leaf axils as well as on the rough protruberances on
branches and stems; they are small, fragrant and with short
pedicels; petals cream coloured and sepals rust-brown; appear from
July/August; flowers and fruits often found on the same tree.
Fruits: Develop from brown-green and tomentose through yellow,
orange and red to dark red, shiny and glabrous; mature fruits
covered by a grey-white, tomentose layer; mostly ovoid (sometimes
globose), up to 2,5 x 2 cm; exocarp thick, firm and encloses a
relatively thick, fleshy layer of fruit pulp containing latex and
mostly one seed (sometimes two); ripen December/January.
General: Wood medium-hard and medium-heavy (air-dry 940
kg/m’); coarsely grained, does not produce a smooth finish, off-
white with a red tinge; useless; fruits edible and pleasant tasting
in
spite of the viscid latex; rich in vitamin C: used for manufacturing
of
jelly, jam, vinegar and alcoholic beverages; fruits eaten by a variety
of wild animals; seeds must be planted when fresh: grows slowly;
drought resistant; fairly cold resistant: also grown from cuttings.
188
585 Mimusops zeyheri Transvaal red milkwood
Medium-large (up to 15 m), evergreen tree; crown very dense,
wide-spreading, more or less round; stem long, bare, straight or
short, crooked and twisted, depending on habitat; young twigs
rusty-brown due to a dense layer of short hairs; bark greyish-white
(sunny side) to dark grey or black (shade), deeply longitudinally
grooved and cracked crosswise; contains latex. Distribution:
Relatively rare and mainly limited to dense ravines and riverine
bush throughout the park. Leaves: Borne spirally around the
branchlets; simple, from elliptic to obovate, mostly about 7,5 x 4
cm, glabrous, dark green, shiny, marginally entire. Flowers: Small
(1 cm diameter), white, fragrant; borne in clusters in leaf axils;
peduncles relatively long (3 cm) and rusty-brown; borne
November/December. Fruits: Ovoid to subglobose berries, up to
3 x 2,5 cm; persistent sepals prominent; exocarp hard, brittle,
encloses floury fruit pulp and one to four seeds; yellow to orange,
glabrous and glossy when ripe (July to September in the lowveld).
General: Wood pale brown with reddish tinge, medium-hard (air-
dry 800 kg/m’) and tough, rather coarsely grained, produces a
smooth finish; already used in wagon-building trade as well as for
manufacturing of farming implements; fruits edible and pleasant
tasting, containing vitamin C, eaten by fruit-eating animals and
birds: leaves seldom utilized by game; fast growing; mature plants
fairly cold resistant.

189
586 Manilkara concolor Zulu milkberry
Medium-large (up to 17 m), deciduous to semi-deciduous tree with
a spreading, twiggy but sparse crown and a long, bare, slightly
crooked stem (sometimes multi-stemmed); old bark grey to black,
longitudinally grooved and cracked crosswise forming small blocks;
leaves are shed very late (winter) and do not change colour.
Distribution: Rare; limited to the Malelane mountains: one young
tree in Bushman trail-camp. Leaves: Borne irregularly spirally at
twig terminals; simple, obovate, tapering towards the base, on
average 7 x 3cm, hard, leathery, glabrous, marginally entire, glossy
and spoon-shaped; petioles glabrous; contain latex. Flowers: Small
(5 mm diameter), simple, pale yellow, fragrant; borne in large
clusters in the leaf axils as well as on one year-old branchlets;
appear August to October. Fruits: Small (1,5 x 1,2 cm), ovoid to
globose; sepals persistent; small mucrones at the apices; change
colour from dark green and finely speckled to yellow; caducous;
fruit pulp fairly thick and juicy; one or two stones: ripen in
December/January. General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 070 kg/m’),
hard, finely grained, difficult to work with. produces an
exceptionally smooth finish; sapwood pale brown and heartwood
dark red-brown; suitable for manufacturing of furniture and
ornaments; fruits edible and palatable but the latex is a nuisance.
eaten by birds and other wild animals: grows slowly and not
cold
resistant.

190
587 Manilkara mochisia Lowveld milkberry
Mostly smallish (9 m) but sometimes up to 15 m high; deciduous,
leaves shed late in winter and do not change colour; crown
spreading, very twiggy but sparse; stem crooked, branches low
down; branch terminals mostly on or near the ground; twigs very
brittle, articulated; old stems mostly fairly smooth and greyish-
yellow; old bark grey and peels off in flat slices which leave yellow
marks but sometimes nearly black and longitudinally divided into
strips which split crosswise. Distribution: Wide-spread in park but
avoids the basalt plains in the eastern half; fairly rare; displays quite
contrasting habitat preferences. Leaves: Borne spirally and close
together at the twig terminals; simple, spatulate to obovate,
broadest at the tip, up to 6 x 3cm, sometimes much smaller, usually
slightly spoon-shaped, marginally entire, glabrous, dark green,
particularly shiny; petioles smooth and glabrous; contain latex.
Flowers: Small (6 mm diameter), predominantly pale yellow,
fragrant; peduncles relatively long (1,5 cm); borne in large clusters
below the leaves on thickened portions oftwigs, i.e. the previous
season’s growth; appear with the new leaves from September to
November. Fruits: Small, symmetrically ovoid (1,2 x 1 cm); thin,
sharp mucrone at the apex; glabrous, glossy and bright yellow when
ripe (January to March); thin exocarp encloses the fairly thick,
yellow, fleshy fruit pulp and one to three stones. General: Wood
heavy (air-dry 1 120 kg/m’), hard, brittle; sapwood pale brown with
pinkish tinge, heartwood dark brown; fruits relished by man and
beast in spite of the latex; leaves seldom eaten by game; grows
slowly; not cold resistant.

19]
595 Euclea divinorum Magic guarri
Multi-stemmed (seldom single-stemmed), evergreen shrub/small
tree (6 m), with a rather dense, twiggy, roundish crown; single
stems only sometimes relatively long, often with lateral twigs;
branches and stems nearly white, grey or dark grey with rough,
black protruberances; very old stems rough and the bark broken
into small sections. Distribution: Throughout the park; often found
in nearly homogeneous stands on brackish flats. Leaves: Borne in
opposite pairs; simple, narrow and elongated elliptic, up to 10,5 x
2,5 cm, glabrous, hard, thick, marginally entire, strongly undulate,
grey-green; sometimes red-brown when young. Flowers: Borne in
composite clusters in the leaf axils; male flowers larger (5 mm
diameter) than the female flowers (3 mm), also in larger clusters but
with shorter peduncles; borne on separate trees; normally appear
between August and October, sometimes later. Fruits: Globose
berries (6 mm diameter); in dense clusters: exocarp thin, soft, dull
red-brown with a grey bloom; fruit pulp thin, juicy; single stone
very hard; ripe in April/May. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-
dry 820 kg/m’), hard, tough, pale red to red-brown, finely grained;
probably not used; fruits edible but rather unpalatable and
purgative, eaten by birds; an alcoholic beverage brewed from the
fruits; branches used extensively as an aid in fire-fighting; leaves
very seldom utilized by game; grows slowly; fairly cold resistant.

192
606 Diospyros mespiliformis Jackal berry
Large (20 m), deciduous (leaves turn dark yellow) tree with wide-
spreading, dense, round crown and a long, bare, straight, thick
stem; young branchlets finely tomentose; old stems dark grey to
black; bark peels off in small, flat sections; leaves are shed in spring
or early summer. Distribution: Throughout the park on about all
soil types, but markedly associated with low-lying areas along rivers
and streams, where it also attains maximum dimensions. Leaves:
Borne alternately and fairly close together at twig terminals; simple,
oblong to narrowly oval, about 8 x 3 cm, initially rather pubescent
but later glabrous, shiny, dark green, marginally entire, fairly hard,
thick and with large undulations. Flowers: Male and female flowers
on separate trees; both sexes creamy-white, tubiform-campanulate
and borne in leaf axils; male florets borne in clusters on short
peduncles and slightly larger and thinner than the sessile, solitary
female florets; flowers appear later than the leaves, December.
Fruits: Subglobose berries (2 cm diameter); glossy, smooth,
glabrous with a prominent mucro at the apex and the persistent,
crenate sepals at the base; fruit pulp fairly thick and jelly-like;
exocarp thick and brittle; two to six seeds; fruits develop very slowly
and sometimes only ripen a year after flowering (September/
October). General: Wood fairly heavy (air-dry 850 kg/m’), hard,
pale red with brownish tone, durable, quite termite resistant,
difficult to work with; fruits edible and palatable for man and beast;
leaves sporadically utilized by browsers; grows slowly; not cold
resistant.

193
61 3 Schrebera alata Wild jasmine (= S. argyrotricha)
Smallish (10 m) tree; deciduous (leaves turn brown); crown rather
sparse, poorly spreading, upright, roundish; stem sub-divides fairly
low down but the branches grow close together and only spread out
fairly high up; branchlets very brittle; stem grey-brown; bark soft,
rough, breaks up into small, irregular sections. Distribution: Have
thus far only been found in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane and Punda
Maria sections as well as the Karoo sediments near Tshokwane:
largest specimens occur near Pretoriuskop. Leaves: Borne in
decussate pairs on new growth; compound, imparipinnate with two
pairs of lateral leaflets and a single terminal one: the latter always
larger than the others (8 x 3,5 cm) and obovate; lateral leaflets
roughly oblong/elliptic; all leaflets marginally entire, pubescent,
only slightly glossy; petiole and rachis have conspicuous wings
(fillodes) laterally. Flowers: Rather small (1,5 cm diameter), waxy,
trumpet-shaped; petals white with red blotches along the rim,
sometimes pink with dark red blotches; borne in clusters near the
twig terminals in the leaf axils; only appear after good rain, between
September and February. Fruits: Capsules, 2,5 x 1,2 cm, more or
less wedge-shaped with a groove at the apex; flat, initially finely
pubescent and later glossy and smooth, yellow-green with white
speckles when young, brown to black when ripe; dehisce
longitudinally when ripe and persist on the trees for a long time
afterwards; ripen between February and June. General: Wood
pale
brown with red-brown and grey blotches, medium-heavy (air-dry
770 kg/m’), fairly hard, particularly finely grained, produces
a
smooth finish; fruits useless for man and beast: grows slowly;
probably not cold resistant.

194
61 4 Chionanthus battiscombei Water pock ironwood
(= Linociera battiscombei)

Small (6 m); evergreen; slender with rather meagre, sparsely

branched, poorly spreading crown; stem short, straight; branches
long, bare; sometimes multi-stemmed; old stems pale grey, nearly
smooth; bark does not break up. Distribution: Only occurs in a
small area to the west/north-west of Punda Maria; in dense thickets
at the bases and against the slopes of the stony, sandstone ridges.
Leaves: Borne in opposite pairs; simple, mostly broadly
elliptic/obovate, up to 10,5 x 3,8 cm, thick, fairly hard, glabrous,
smooth dark green, glossy and marginally entire; in the central
portion of the leaf there are small hollows (underneath) in the axils
between the midrib and secondary veins. Flowers: Small, sessile,
borne in dense, flattened cymes in leaf axils; petals narrow,
relatively long, waxy, crumpled; flower buds appear in June/July
but only open after good rain, as late as November/December;
some even found in March. Fruits: Ovoid, up to 2,8 x 1,8.cm,
initially green with white speckles and purply-black when ripe; thin
exocarp encloses the firm, juicy, sweet fruit pulp and one stone;
ripen between November and March; yield poor crops in the park.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 1 000 kg/m’), hard, exceptionally
finely grained, pale brown, produces a smooth finish, apparently
not used; fruits eaten by birds and insects; possibly grow from
cuttings; probably a slow grower with a low resistance to cold
conditions.

195
61 re Olea europaea subsp. africana Wild olive (= O. africana)
Smallish (10 m), evergreen; crown spreading, rather sparse,
sometimes dense; stems usually short and slightly crooked, dented
and knobbly in open veld but tall and slender under forest
conditions; old stems dark grey and rough; bark breaks up into
small blocks. Distribution: Only in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area
of the park; especially in the dense bush in ravines and on stream
banks; also in stony areas. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs; simple,
oblong/narrowly oval, up to 8 x 1,5 cm, shiny and buff to dark green
above; brown-green, dull and covered with silvery or brownish
scales underneath; glabrous, marginally entire, rather hard:
margins revolute. Flowers: Very small (5 mm diameter), white,
borne in clusters in the leaf axils near the twig terminals; usually
appear November/December. Fruits: Small (1,2 cm long),
subglobose to nearly ovoid with a sharp mucro at the apex; exocarp
and fruit pulp thin and cover a single seed; purplish-black at
ripening (March/April). General: Wood well known, hard, heavy
(air-dry 1 140 kg/m’), strong, finely grained; sapwood pale brown
and heartwood brown with yellow-brown blotches and dark brown
annual rings; fragrant, easy to work and produces a particularly
smooth finish; exceptionally suitable for furniture and ornaments:
excellent for firewood as well as fencing posts; fruits bitter but
edible, utilized by man and beast; infusions of the bark and leaves
used medicinally; grows very slowly; cold resistant.

196
62 1 Salvadora angustifolia var. australis
Transvaal mustard tree

Small (up to 7 m), evergreen; crown sparse, spreading, twiggy,

formless; stem very short, crooked, often grooved; branch terminals
often near the ground unless browsed; branchlets tomentose, buff-
green; old stems pale grey with dark blotches; bark breaks up into
very small, irregular blocks; peels off. Distribution: Limited to the
eastern side of the park (basalt) and only abundant along the
Shingwedzi River (near the rest camp) and at Pafuri near the
eastern boundary. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs; simple, linear
to narrowly obovate, mostly 4,5 x 1 cm, buff-green, seldom bright
pale green, tomentose, almost succulent-like, brittle, dull,
marginally entire; salty taste. Flowers: Very small (2mm diameter),
yellow-green; borne in short, compact panicles in the leaf axils and
at the twig terminals; appear August. Fruits: Small drupes,
subglobose, 5 mm in diameter, finely pubescent, buff-green;
exocarp and fruit pulp thin and soft; ripen November/December.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 960 kg/m’), fairly hard, finely
grained, with pale brown marbled appearance, easy to work and
produces a smooth finish; looks promising but apparently not used
at all: unlike Salvadora persica, this species does not contain
alkaloids; sore eyes treated with infusions of the leaves; fruits
edible, unpalatable, utilized by wild animals; important food plant
for impala, kudu and elephant; sensitive to cold; apparently grows
slowly.

197
624 Strychnos decussata Cape teak
Locally a small (7 m) tree; semi-deciduous (October/November);
sometimes slender and multi-stemmed, otherwise single-stemmed
with a spreading, unusually twiggy, dense crown; new branchlets in
opposite pairs; stems often dented and knobbly, smooth, leaden-
grey; thornless. Distribution: Everywhere on hills and ridges north
of the Sabie River; also in the Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri:
especially abundant in the extreme northern area ofthe park.
Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs; simple, broadly oval to obovate,
on average 4 x 2,5 cm, dark green, glossy, hard, very smooth,
glabrous, marginally entire and always conduplicate upwards;
mostly three (sometimes five) large veins originate in the leaf base.
Flowers: Small (6 mm diameter), white to cream-coloured with
white hairs in the throat; borne in cymes in the leaf axils on the
previous year’s wood; normally appear with new leaves,
November/December. Fruits: Subglobose, slightly asymmetrical
berries, 1,7 cm in diameter; short, sharp mucros at the apices;
smooth, glossy, yellow to orange when ripe (between April and
September); exocarp thin but hard; fruit pulp layer thin. General:
Wood (in Kruger Park) fairly hard, heavy (air-dry 940 kg/m’),
yellowy-brown with reticulated pattern, elsewhere said to have
yellowish-green sapwood and dark brown to black heartwood:
works easily and does not produce smooth finish: used for
manufacturing of musical instruments; leaves utilized by several
species of game; bark and fruit contain alkaloids: apparently not
poisonous; powdered bark used by Tsonga people as antidote
for
Scorpion poison; grows slowly; drought resistant; probably
not cold
resistant.

198
625 Strychnos henningsii Coffee bitterberry

Small tree (up to 8 m) in the park; it is evergreen to semi-deciduous;

crown wide-spreading, particularly dense; branch terminals
pendent; stem long, bare, fairly smooth, pale buff-grey but brown
where the bark peels off in irregular sections; branchlets in opposite
pairs; has no thorns. Distribution: Only in some ravines in the
Malelane mountains as well as along the Luvuvhu River north-west
of Punda Maria. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs; simple, oval, 6,3
x 3cm, medium-thick, firm, brittle, slightly conduplicate upwards,
glabrous, dark green, particularly glossy, marginally entire; three
large veins originate in the leaf base. Flowers: Small (4 mm long),
striking, yellow to orange (when shrivelled) and borne in short
cymes in the leaf axils; flower buds appear in August; flowering
season lasts until November. Fruits: Small (1,5 cm in diameter),
slightly ovoid, glabrous, glossy; exocarp and fruit pulp firm; one,
seldom two, stones; orange when ripe (February/March). General:
Wood heavy (air-dry 1 040 kg/m’), hard, particularly finely grained,
differentiated into a narrow biscuit-coloured sapwood and a large,
brown, blotchy heartwood; heartwood durable; axe and pick-
handles manufactured from timber; bark contains bitter alkaloid
with reactions similar to those caused by strychnine, as well as
curarine and a glucocide; bark and fruits poisonous; bark
colic
nevertheless used as an appetizer, a purgative, for treatment of
and also against internal parasites; leaves and fruits not utilized by
wild animals; grows slowly; prefers shady conditions; not cold
resistant.

199
626 Strychnos madagascariensis Spineless monkey orange
Multi-stemmed shrub or rather small (8 m) tree; deciduous to semi-
deciduous; thornless; crown wide spreading, fairly dense, twiggy;
stem short, fairly straight, mostly grooved or dented. Distribution:
Throughout the park except on the basalt soils between the
Lebombo (rhyolite) and the western half (granite) from the
Crocodile River to the Limpopo River; more abundant and bigger
in the Pretoriuskop area; shrubs often form dense stands in sandy
soil. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs; simple, closely packed at
twig terminals, mostly obovate, sometimes elliptic or suborbicular,
on average 5 x 3cm, medium-thick, hard, brittle, marginally entire,
dark green, glossy, pubescent when young but later limited to the
veins on under side; three large veins originate in the leaf base anda
second pair slightly higher up; petioles pubescent. Flowers: Small
(8 mm diameter), trumpet-shaped, pale yellow with white hairs in
the throat, sessile; borne in short clusters just below or in the leaf
axils of the oldest leaves; apparently only flowers after good rain
(September to December) and often more than once a year. Fruits:
Large (10 cm in diameter), globose, glossy, glabrous; exocarp
hard,
thick and woody; seeds enclosed by a thick, yellowish layer of
fruit
pulp; fruits orange with brown, rough patches when ripe; trees
in
fruit most of the year; first fruits ripen in winter. General:
Wood
fairly heavy (air-dry 850 kg/m’), pale biscuit-coloured, blotched,
very coarsely grained; easily grown from seed but a slow
grower in
nature; prefers frost-free areas.

200
.
629 Strychnos spinosa Green monkey orange
Smallish (7 m), deciduous tree with a sparse, sometimes twiggy or
otherwise poorly branched, upright to wide-spreading crown and a
shortish, bare and usually crooked stem; stems yellow-grey (in
shade) and grey (sun); bark splits into longitudinal ridges or flat,
irregular sections; usually short, hard, sharp thorns borne in
opposite pairs on the branchlets. Distribution: Fairly general
distribution but rather rare in the park; prefers sandy and/or stony
areas as well as riverbanks but avoids the basalt plains next to the
Lebombo range. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs on new growth;
simple, ovate/obovate to orbicular, 4,5 x 2cm to 12 x 8cm, glabrous
to pubescent, marginally entire, glossy; one or two pairs of
secondary veins originate from the leaf base; petioles glabrous to
pubescent. Flowers: White, small (4 mm long); borne in small
racemes at the twig terminals; flowering season very long, August
to January. Fruits: Globose, large (10 cm in diameter), hard,
glabrous, glossy, bright green to yellow-green and then orange-
yellow (ripe); large number of seeds embedded in the soft, juicy,
smooth, pale brown fruit pulp; apparently only ripen about a year
after flowering, August/September to December/January. General:
Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 730 kg/m’) and medium-hard; pale
brown; easy to work with; coarsely grained; fruit pulp edible and
palatable but can not be stored; a variety of wild animals relish the
leaves and fruits; grows slowly; not cold resistant.

201
630 Strychnos potatorum Black bitterberry
Smallish to medium-large (16 m), deciduous tree with a slender to
spreading, fairly dense crown and a short, low-branching to long,
mostly deeply grooved or even composite stem; twigs glabrous; old
stems pale grey and fairly smooth; bark only sporadically peels off
in small, longitudinal strips. Distribution: Almost exclusively
limited to the sandveld areas and riverbanks in the Punda Maria/
Pafuri area and is rather rare; largest specimens on banks of
Luvuvhu River; a single tree on the bank of the Sabie River.
Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs on new growth; simple,
oblong/ovate, sometimes large (17 x 7 cm), but mostly 11 x 5,5 cm,
particularly glossy, smooth, hard but thin, glabrous, marginally
entire, green to dark green; midrib and two pairs of secondary veins
originate in the leaf base. Flowers: Small (9 mm in diameter), pale
yellow, stellate; borne in short, compact cymes in the leaf axils:
appear between August and October, immediately after the new
leaves. Fruits: Small (2 cm in diameter), globose, glabrous, glossy;
initially bright green, then dark purple and black when ripe;
exocarp thin and hard; fruit pulp mushy, purple; single-seeded;
ripening nearly a full year after flowering, May to July, and
sometimes after the leaves have been shed. General: Wood
medium-heavy (air-dry 770 kg/m’) and medium-hard. pale buff-
brown with marbled pattern; coarsely grained; fruits extremely
toxic causing typical symptoms of strychnine poisoning; rather fast
growing and probably not cold resistant.

202
632 Anthocleista grandiflora Forest fever tree

Large (20 m), evergreen tree; stem and branches long and bare;
stems sometimes branching low down; usually long, slender and
poorly branching; crown spreading gradually in case of old trees and
may be fairly dense. Distribution: Only a few specimens in the park;
one in the Sabie River, east of Skukuza, and the other at a spring,
west of Punda Maria. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs at branch
terminals; simple, elongated obovate, exceptionally large
(1,5 mx 45 cm on young trees and 50 x 20 cm on old trees), dark
green, glossy, thin and soft for their size, glabrous; margins hard
and inconspicuously finely crenate. Flowers: Borne in umbelliform
clusters, resembling candelabra, on branch terminals; flowers
relatively large (3 cm long), tubiform, waxy, white and later cream-
coloured; petals sharply recurved; flowers have only been found
during October/November. Fruits: Ovoid, 3 x 2.cm, glossy, smooth,
glabrous, brown when mature; multi-seeded; large, mature fruits
found more or less throughout the year. General: Wood soft, fairly
light (air-dry 730 kg/m’), undifferentiated (pale brown), but with a
very soft core; used for manufacturing of fruit-boxes; fruits not
edible; elephants utilize the leaves and branches; infusions used for
treatment of malaria and diarrhoea; grows exceptionally fast, up to
6 m per year; unfortunately not cold resistant since it is an
outstanding ornamental tree.

203
635 Nuxia oppositifolia Water elder
Small (8 m); evergreen; mostly multi-stemmed; slender, erect with
dense foliage; branches long, thin and tend to bend outwards in old
trees; young branchlets have four longitudinal ridges; lateral twigs
in opposite pairs; old stems grey-brown; bark splits into narrow,
longitudinal ridges which peel off in long strips. Distribution: Fairly
abundant in all the rivers in the park; also near semi-permanent
water-holes in some of the larger streams. Leaves: Borne in
decussate pairs; simple, long and narrow (8 x 1 cm), pale green,
glossy, glabrous, slightly sticky, fairly thin; margins largely crenate-
dentate in the upper half or third. Flowers: Exceedingly small,
inconspicuous; petals white and calyxes glossy green; borne in
dense clusters in axils of last few pairs of leaves; appear
October/November. Fruits: More or less ovoid capsules; as long as
the persistent calyx tubes (5 mm); mature quickly (January/
February) and are then dark brown; persist on the trees for some
time. General: Wood hard, medium-heavy (air-dry 860 kg/m’);
sapwood wide, pale brown; heartwood small, dark brown: finely
grained; produces a smooth finish; suitable for manufacturing of
ornamental articles; leaves only utilized by certain species such as
elephant, kudu and bushbuck; slow grower, prefers wet conditions;
apparently fairly cold resistant.

204
640 Acokanthera rotundata Round-leaved poison-bush
(= A. schimperi var. rotundata)
Small (5 m); evergreen; stem short, bent, deeply grooved
longitudinally; crown sparse, formless; exceptionally dark green
foliage; sometimes multi-stemmed; bark brownish-grey, peels off in
flat discs; contains milky latex. Distribution: Only in stony areas in
the area north-east of Punda Maria; generally very scarce. Leaves:
Borne in decussate pairs; simple, fairly large (8 x 6 cm),
suborbicular, thick, very hard, rough, dark green, glabrous,
marginally entire. Flowers: White or faintly pink, fragrant, trumpet-
shaped, small (1 cm long); borne in short clusters in the leaf axils
near the twig terminals; flowers have been found in August and
March; apparently very dependent on rain for reproduction. Fruits:
Globose or subglobose berries, about 2 cm in diameter; smooth,
glabrous, red to reddish-purple when ripe (found in November and
April); exocarp thin and fruit pulp layer thick; one or two-seeded;
borne singly or in pairs in the leaf axils. General: Wood fairly heavy
(air-dry 960 kg/m’), hard, brittle, pale biscuit-coloured, finely
grained; produces a smooth finish; insects cause extensive damage
to the living wood — even thin branchlets are hollow; wood not used;
latex toxic, used by the Bushmen as arrow poison; fruits bitter but
edible; grows very slowly; probably fairly drought and cold
resistant.

205
643 Diplorhynchus condylocarpon Horn-pod tree

Deciduous, mostly multi-stemmed shrub or tree (seldom up to

14 m) with a poorly spreading, sparse crown and long, lax, pendent
branchlets; stems mostly short, crooked, dented, fairly smooth and
grey; bark sometimes breaks up and peels off sporadically in small
sections; lateral twigs in opposite pairs; contains milky latex.
Distribution: Limited to the sandveld areas around Punda Maria:
rather common. Leaves: Simple; arranged symmetrically in
opposite pairs; usually more or less oval, up to 7 x 4,5 cm, pendent,
smooth, glabrous, glossy, thin, fairly hard, marginally entire;
exudes latex when cracked. Flowers: Small but relatively long, thin
and yellow in the bud stage; white, stellate and about 1 cm in
diameter when open; exceptionally fragrant; borne in clusters at the
twig terminals; flowers appear together with new leaves in October,
but sometimes as late as February. Fruits: Mericarps (‘twin-pods’)
on communal stalk, bases joined; pod-shaped, dorsally straight and
ventrally curved, flattened on the sides, up to 5 x 2 cm; dark brown
and woody when ripe (first ones March/April, sometimes in
following spring); slightly rough; splits longitudinally at ripening to
release the two-to-four winged seeds. General: Wood rather hard,
medium-heavy (air-dry 750 kg/m’), tough, undifferentiated (pale
brown) with a small, soft core; fairly fine grained; latex also used as
gum and even as a depilatory; elephants very fond of the species;
grows medium-fast; fairly cold resistant; prefers well-drained soil.

206
644 Tabernaemontana elegans Lowveld toad tree

Small (up to 10 m), deciduous tree only losing its leaves in spring
(semi-deciduous in moist conditions); stem short and branches
bare; crown roundish and fairly dense; lateral twigs arranged in
opposite pairs; dead bark yellow-grey and deeply grooved
longitudinally, corky; living bark dark green; contains great
quantities of milky latex. Distribution: Mainly in the Punda
Maria/Pafuri area, prefers moist conditions; elsewhere also found
on riverbanks but very rare; planted in rest camps. Leaves: Borne in
decussate pairs; simple, oblong, large (usually 12 x 5 cm); dark
green, glossy, smooth, glabrous, marginally entire; membraneous
stipules form tubular sheaths encircling the twigs at the bases of the
petioles. Flowers: Borne in panicles near the twig terminals; flower
buds glossy and yellow-green; open flowers white and trumpet-
shaped; petals narrow, relatively long, recurved; flowering
normally starts in September but have been found in March. Fruits:
Normally consist of two (sometimes one or three) hemispheric
mericarps about 6 cm long and 7 cm broad on a communal stalk;
upper side ofthe fruit flat with a thickened edge and underside
globose; exocarp thick, brown-green and covered by tuberculate
organs; large number of seeds are closely packed and each
surrounded by a thin, fleshy, bright orange layer of fruit pulp; when
ripe dehisce longitudinally along the convex side; ripen between
February and August. General: Wood light (air-dry 560 kg/m’),
soft, undifferentiated, pale off-white, coarsely grained; latex
becomes rubbery when dry, contains resin; seeds germinate easily;
grows fairly fast; requires moist conditions; considered fairly cold
resistant.

207
647 Rauvolfia caffra Quinine tree
Medium-large (up to 18 m), deciduous to evergreen (in moist
conditions) tree with a long, bare, straight stem and a wide-
spreading, round, fairly dense crown; thinner branches always
pendent; branchlets arranged in groups of four; old stems yellow-
brown; bark soft, corky and breaks up in small, regular, oblong
pieces; contains large quantities of milky latex. Distribution:
Throughout the park next to rivers, springs and bigger streams with
permanent water, generally rare but more abundant in the Punda
Maria/Pafuri area. Leaves: Borne in verticils of five (sometimes
three or four); simple, oblong/lanceolate, usually 15 x 4cm
(sometimes up to 30 x 7,5 cm), fairly dark green, glossy, glabrous,
smooth, medium-thick, marginally entire; with a sharp ridge on
either side of the petiole. Flowers: Snow-white, waxy, trumpet-
shaped; borne in racemes at the twig terminals; appear end of
September to November. Fruits: Borne in clusters at the twig
terminals, reminiscent of the exotic seringa; more or less oblong,
1,5 cm in diameter, initially glossy dark green with white dots and
later pitch-black and wrinkled; fruit pulp juicy and purple; one,
sometimes two, seeds; ripen in January/February. General: Wood
soft, light (air-dry 540 kg/m’); heartwood small, soft, grey; sapwood
large, off-white; coarsely grained; easy to work with; suitable for
woodcuts and manufacturing of drums; several alkaloids occur in
the latex; infusions of the bark used for the treatment of malaria;
latex thought to be poisonous; utilization of the plant by game very
limited; fast growing; not cold resistant.

208
650 Wrightia natalensis Saddle pod
Smallish (12 m), deciduous tree with moderately spreading, sparse
crown and a short, bare, dented stem; often multi-stemmed; new
twigs in opposite pairs; old stems smooth, grey-green with yellowish
patches; bark peels off in small, flat, grey sections; contains milky
latex. Distribution: Almost limited to the sandveld regions around
Punda Maria and south of Pafuri (Nwambiya); a small number of
trees have also been found along the Nwaswitsontso River west/
north-west of Tshokwane. Leaves: Borne in opposite pairs; simple,
elongated lanceolate, taper to a sharp apex, up to 9,5 x 2,4cm,
smooth, glabrous, pendent, marginally entire or margins
inconspicuously finely dentate, thin, yellowish-green. Flowers:
Borne in axillary racemes on new growth; fragrant, bright yellow,
stellate, about 1,5 cm in diameter; appear October/November.
Fruits: Mericarps (‘twin-pods’); individual fruits (‘pods’) up to
30 x 1,3 cm; cylindrical; initially dark green and glossy and later
dark brown with grey-white speckles; splits longitudinally when
ripe (June to August). General: Wood pale biscuit-coloured, very
light (air-dry 510 kg/m’), soft, tough; insect proof; latex rubbery
when dry; apparently not utilized by game; grows slowly and
probably not cold resistant.

209
653 Cordia grandicalyx Round-leaved saucer-berry
Small (6 m), untidy, deciduous to semi-deciduous tree with a short
stem and wide-spreading, dense crown; shows a twining tendency;
new growth brown, tomentose; old stems grey-brown; bark only
breaks up on very old stems and then peels off in untidy sections
and strips. Distribution: Limited to the sandveld regions north of
the Shingwedzi River (few specimens on granite); mainly in stony
areas or associated with termitaria. Leaves: Simple; arranged
spirally around the branchlets near the terminals; large (12 x 8 cm),
broadly ovate to suborbicular; rough as a result of hard, thick hairs;
margins distinctly dentate in young leaves only. Flowers: Borne in
terminal racemes; more or less trumpet-shaped, up to 3 cm long;
petals white and crumpled; persistent calyx tube brown-green and
tomentose; appear October/November. Fruits: Borne in clusters;
subglobose with a sharp mucro at the apex, up to 3,5 cm in
diameter; enclosed by the persistent, cup-shaped, longitudinally
ribbed calyx at the base; exocarp hard, smooth and fruit pulp layer
thick, jelly-like, transparent; resemble the acorn; yellow when ripe
(January/February); persist on the trees for some time before
falling. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’), soft,
tough; heartwood large and dark brown, sapwood narrow and pale
brown; even living wood damaged by insects; suitable for
manufacturing of ornaments; fruits apparently inedible; leaves
utilized by elephants; grows very fast; withstands moderately cold
conditions.

210
658 Premna mooiensis Skunk bush

Shrub or small (7 m), deciduous tree; stem short, crooked and

knobbly; crown spreading, twiggy, untidy and medium-dense;
lateral twigs in opposite pairs, more or less quadrangular; stem
grey-brown; bark fibrous, sub-divides into longitudinal ridges which
peel off in flat strips. Distribution: Probably limited to the south-
western corner of the park (Pretoriuskop/Malelane); only grows in
stony areas. Leaves: Borne more or less in decussate pairs; simple,
broadly oval, up to 6 x 4cm, thin, soft, pale green, glabrous when
mature, marginally entire or one or more large teeth in the upper
half; a particularly sharp, aromatic flavour. Flowers: Borne in
small, terminal racemes; white; two-lipped (bilabiate), about 1 cm
long; calyx pubescent; appear between October and March. Fruits:
Borne in sparse clusters; subglobose (0,8 cm in diameter) berries;
slightly asymmetric and finely pubescent in juvenile stage;
purplish-black and glossy when ripe; calyx persistent; ripen between
December and May; flowers and ripe fruit often found on the same
tree. General: Wood medium-heavy (air-dry 780 kg/m’), hard,
brittle: heartwood large and yellow-brown; sapwood narrow and
buff-brown; particularly fine-grained; living wood damaged by
insects; fruits eaten by birds, leaves only by insects; grows slowly
and probably not cold resistant.

211
6/7/ Markhamia acuminata Bell bean tree

Small (8 m), slender, deciduous tree with a single, shortish,

shallowly grooved stem and a poorly spreading, particularly sparse
crown; branches and stems smooth, glossy, grey-brown to leaden-
grey; bark only peels off in irregular, flat flakes in case of very old
trees. Distribution: Mainly limited to the sandveld areas around
Punda Maria but also on a few koppies in the vicinity of
Pretoriuskop; prefers stony situations. Leaves: Imparipinnately
compound with three (sometimes four) pairs of lateral and one
terminal leaflet; leaves borne in decussate pairs on the branchlets;
leaflets suborbicular to broadly oval, up to 14x 6 cm, thin, slightly
rough, faintly glossy, wrinkled, marginally entire. Flowers: Borne in
terminal and axillary racemes; attractive, large (5 x 5 cm), roughly
campanulate; crumpled petals dark red inside and white to pale
yellow with red stipples outside; appear between September and
February, depending on the rainfall. Fruits: Long (up to 50 cm),
flat, spirally twisted ‘pods’ (technically siliqua); brown to greyish-
black with white speckles when ripe (January to April/May); seeds
have thin, membraneous wings at both ends. General: Wood
medium-heavy (air-dry 780 kg/m’), fairly hard, attractively pale
brown in colour, finely grained; produces a particularly smooth
finish; ideal for manufacturing of ornaments; leaves apparently only
utilized by elephants; slow grower; probably not cold resistant.

212
678 Kigelia africana Sausage tree
Large (up to 20 m), deciduous tree with a relatively short, straight,
very thick, often grooved stem and wide-spreading, dense crown;
sometimes semi-deciduous and leaves are in any case only shed late
in winter or spring; old stems grey-brown and fairly smooth; very
old bark peels off in flat, irregular sections. Distribution: Fairly rare
but distributed throughout the park; usually grows on the banks of
rivers and spruits; only in Pretoriuskop area on rising ground.
Leaves: Imparipinnately compound with two to five lateral pairs
and one terminal leaflet; borne in verticils of three; entire leaf
usually about 25 cm long; leaflets mostly up to 15 x 7 cm, oval to
obovate, fairly thin but exceptionally hard, glabrous, widely
undulate, pale green; margins entire, but especially when young,
finely serrated. Flowers: Borne in large, pendent, axillary racemes;
flowers set in verticils of three on the central peduncle; more or less
pipe-shaped, large (14 x 14 cm); crumpled petals and corolla tubes
dark red on the inside and red-brown with green, longitudinal
ridges on the outside; appear between July and October. Fruits:
Long, cylindrical, up to 50 cm long and 10 cm in diameter, grey-
brown, slightly rough, hard, very heavy (up to 3,5 kg); stalks up toa
metre long; fruits fall from the trees in March/April. General: Wood
locally pale brown, not very hard (air-dry about 720 kg/m’), but
tough; fruits inedible and possibly poisonous, nevertheless
sometimes eaten by baboons and bushpigs; leaves utilized by the
elephant and kudu, flowers by nyala and nectar by primates; fast
growing species; not cold resistant.

213
680 Sesamothamnus lugardii Transvaal sesame bush
Small (up to 6 m), deciduous tree with an exceptionally thick,
fleshy, succulent-like stem which always sub-divides into several
stems near the ground; crown sparse, poorly spreading, consisting
of long, thin, upright or drooping branches; stems predominantly
brownish-yellow, faintly glossy and smooth; bark peels off in paper-
thin strips; short, single ‘thorns’ borne spirally around the twigs.
Distribution: Have been found only in two localities in the park —
south of the Olifants River in the eastern half as well as the sandveld
area north and north-east of Punda Maria. Leaves: Simple and
borne in groups of two to seven in the axils of the thorns; oval to
narrowly spatulate, up to 4 x 2,5 cm; fairly thick, soft; buff-green,
dull, marginally entire and covered by stellate hairs, especially
when young. Flowers: Solitary; up to 15 cm long; corolla tube long,
thin, dark red-brown; petals large, white to cream-coloured, slightly
crenate; borne between September and December, depending on
rainfall. Fruits: Flat capsules of 6x 5 cm, roughly rectangular with
emarginate apex, longitudinally thickened in the middle; dehisce
along the thickened edges when ripe (January to March) to release
the winged seeds. General: Wood succulent-like, extremely soft and
light, fibrous; useless; utilized by elephants and sometimes
uprooted; grows slowly; fairly cold resistant.

214
682 Hymenodictyon parvifolium subsp. parvifolium
Wild firebush

Small (at most 5 m), deciduous tree with a single, succulent-like

stem and poorly spreading, fairly upright, sparse crown, stems
leaden-grey to grey-brown; bark smooth, thick, soft and grooved
crosswise; lateral twigs in decussate pairs. Distribution: Fairly rare;
on granitic and basaltic koppies north of the Olifants River as well
as the Lebombo range (rhyolite) north of the Sabie River, for
instance at Olifants rest camp. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs;
simple, oval, up to 5 x 2.cm, glossy, greyish-green, glabrous, slightly
fleshy, marginally entire; red to brownish-green when young.
Flowers: Very small, malodorous; initially bright yellow, then
white, and brown when they shrivel; borne in racemes at the twig
terminals; appear October/November. Fruits: Ovoid capsules, to
2,5 x 1 cm, grey-brown with white speckles; dehisce lengthwise
when ripe (April/May); seeds encircled by thin, membraneous
wings. General: Wood light (air-dry 590 kg/m’), soft, coarsely
grained ,pale brown, very easy to work; apparently insect proof; not
used at all: infusions of the roots used for treatment of kidney
complaints; not utilized by game; tempo of growth apparently very
slow; probably not cold resistant.

215
683 Crossopteryx febrifuga Sand crown berry
Smallish (10 m), deciduous tree with a single, mostly slightly
crooked stem and a sparse to medium-dense, moderately spreading,
twiggy, formless crown; lateral branchlets in opposite pairs; old
stems black with pale grey blotches; bark peels off in small,
irregular blocks. Distribution: Limited to the sandveld areas in the
Punda Maria/Pafuri region. Leaves: Borne in decussate pairs;
simple, ovate to oval, up to 7,5 x 4,5 cm, marginally entire; glossy
green; fairly hard and thick, finely pubescent; four persistent
stipules in decussate pairs present at each pair of leaves; young
leaves attractively shiny brown. Flowers: Borne in dense clusters at
twig terminals; small, fragrant, pale cream-coloured; petals
recurved backwards; appear between November and February,
depending on rainfall. Fruits: Borne in small, dense, terminal
clusters; small capsules (8 mm in diameter), slightly ovoid; dark
brown and glossy when ripe (February to June); dehisce
longitudinally; the tiny seeds are encircled by narrow, tattered
wings. General: Wood fairly brittle, hard (air-dry 720 kg/m’), buff-
brown with a reddish tinge, finely grained; produces a smooth
finish; damaged by wood borers; once used for rifle-butts; infusions
of the bark used to treat a variety of ailments such as high fever,
venereal diseases, eye inflammation, malaria and colic; contains
alkaloids; leaves eaten by several game species, particularly
elephant, bushbuck, kudu; grows slowly; probably not cold
resistant.

216
684 Breonadia salicina Matumi (= Adina microcephala;
= B. microcephala)

Smallish to rather gigantic (40 m), evergreen tree with a short or

particularly tall, erect stem and a sparse to dense, poorly spreading
crown: lateral branchlets arranged in groups; old stems grey-brown
and bark breaks up into irregular ridges but does not peel off.
Distribution: Along all the rivers and other permanent water
sources throughout the park and seldom in and beside large, dry
spruits; planted in some rest camps. Leaves: Borne in verticils of
four; simple, oblong, on average 17,5 x 3,5 cm, medium-thick, dark
green, glossy, glabrous, smooth, marginally entire; longitudinal
ridges (wings) on either side of petiole. Flowers: Very small, pale
yellow with pinkish tinge; densely packed in globose (2 cm in
diameter) heads; heads solitary in leaf axils; appear from
November/December to March. Fruits: Extremely small and fall
with the sepals covering them; ripen from January/February.
General: Wood heavy (air-dry 930 kg/m’), fairly hard, oily, pale to
dark brown with paler blotches, finely grained; dries out very
slowly; easy to work and produces a very smooth finish; particularly
durable: sometimes used for parquet-flooring, boats, mine-
buttresses and furniture; leaves not utilized by game; grows fairly
fast; not cold resistant.

217
69 1 Gardenia volkensii subsp. volkensii Transvaal gardenia
(= G. spatulifolia)
Small (up to 8 m), deciduous tree with a single, short, rather thick,
grooved stem and a spreading, roundish, particularly twiggy, fairly
dense crown; lateral twigs in verticils of three, exceptionally hard;
stems pale grey with a yellowy tinge; bark peels off here and there
in small, thick, grey sections. Distribution: Throughout the park but
nowhere abundant; can be seen in Skukuza and vicinity; planted in
other rest camps. Leaves: Borne in verticils of three; simple,
obovate/spatulate, mostly about 4 x 2,5 cm, thin, fairly soft,
smooth, marginally entire, green, glossy, finely pubescent when
young; hair bundles in little hollows in axils of veins on underside;
stipules connate, caducous. Flowers: Attractive, large, trumpet-
shaped with a long (8 cm) corolla tube and white, waxy, undulating
petals (10 cm in diameter); flowers turn yellow within a few days;
trees flower from six to eight weeks between September and
January. Fruits: Ovoid to subglobose; about 6 x 4,5 cm, buff-green,
rough, longitudinally ribbed; contain large number of small, pale
yellow seeds; ripening normally takes place between December and
April, sometimes as late as August. General: Wood hard, strong,
fairly heavy (air-dry 880 kg/m’), off-white, particularly finely
grained; produces a smooth finish; suitable for manufacturing of
ornaments; fruits supposed to be toxic but used as emetic; some
browsers eat the leaves; grows from seed and cuttings but very
slowly; drought resistant; must be protected against severe cold.

218
694 Rothmannia fischeri Rhodesian gardenia
Small (up to 8 m), evergreen (seldom semi-deciduous) tree with a
long, bare, erect stem and a small, poorly spreading, fairly dense
crown; lateral twigs in opposite pairs; stems fairly smooth; brown-
red to greyish; bark sporadically peels off in small, flat strips.
Distribution: Only in the Punda Maria area; mostly in the dense
thickets against the slopes of the sandstone ridges. Leaves: Simple,
in opposite pairs, pendent, elongated oval to obovate with a long,
narrow apex; from 5 x 2 cm, dark green, particularly shiny, strongly
conduplicate upwards, mostly marginally entire; small hollows in
corners between midrib and secondary veins on underside and
protruberances on upper side; petioles bordered by narrow ridges
borne on
on the sides. Flowers: Beautiful and particularly fragrant;
terminals; each consists of a thin, long corolla tube (up to 7 cm
twig
long) which widens at the top and terminates in five large,
tube
acuminate petals; petals white with dark red speckles; corolla
flower
pale green outside and whitish-green with speckles inside;
the first spring
buds appear as early as June/July but only open after
r/October ). Fruits: Ovoid; up to 7,5 x 6cm, hard;
rain (Septembe
with speckles, glossy with a
initially pale green and later dark green
at the apex; dark brown when ripe; full
round, grey-brown mark
after a few months but ripen only about a year later. General:
grown
Wood hard, medium-heavy (air-dry 800 kg/m’), pale biscuit-
utilized by
coloured, fairly brittle, particularly finely grained; not
lly
game; grows slowly; probably not cold resistant; exceptiona
decorative tree.

219
702 Vangueria infausta subsp. infausta Wild medlar
(= V. infausta)

Small (6 m), deciduous tree with a short, bare, dented, knobbly

stem and a spreading, rather sparse, twiggy crown and pendent
branchlets; lateral twigs borne in opposite pairs; stems pale grey-
brown with a yellowish tinge; bark peels off in flat, untidy strips.
Distribution: Occurs fairly generally throughout the park but rare;
prefers stony and sandy areas, especially the Pretoriuskop and
Punda Maria area. Leaves: Simple; borne in opposite pairs; broadly
oval to ovate, usually about 11 x 6 cm, dull, green, soft, pubescent,
more so in the juvenile stage, marginally entire; stipules triangular,
caducous. Flowers: Small (5 mm long); in dense racemes; petals
yellow to yellow-green and recurved towards the corolla tube; hairs
present in the corolla tube; flowering time varies with rainfall,
between October and March. Fruits: Subglobose, up to 3,5 cm in
diameter; dark green, sparsely puberulous and glossy when young
but glabrous, dull, pale brown and soft when ripe; a grey mark with
a circular line around it occurs at the apex; ripening takes place
between midsummer and winter; large fruits and flowers often
found on the same tree. General: Wood fairly hard; medium-heavy
(air-dry 880 kg/m’), strong, pale brown, finely grained, not put to
use; fruits and seeds edible, soury-sweet and palatable; leaves eaten
by game; infusions of the roots and leaves are used for treatment of
chest complaints, toothache and malaria, also as a purgative;
tubercles on the leaves rather common; grows fairly slowly; fairly
cold resistant.

220
T1 vf Pavetta edentula Gland-leaf tree

Small (5 m), deciduous (leaves turn bright yellow) tree with a

relatively short, straight stem and poorly spreading, very sparse,
meagrely branched crown; lateral twigs in opposite pairs; old stems
pale grey; bark soft, corky, forms longitudinal ridges. Distribution:
Limited to the southern area of the park; prefers rocky situations;
rare: abundant between Nelspruit and Barberton. Leaves: Simple;
borne in decussate pairs at the twig terminals; oblong/lanceolate,
sometimes up to 20 x 5 cm, thick, firm, green, glossy, glabrous,
smooth, marginally entire, dark dots can be seen when leaves are
held up to the light, and appear on upper surface as small knobs —
bacterial fascicles typical of Paverta species. Flowers: Fairly small,
snow-white, fragrant; borne in large, dense masses directly below
the leaves; appear simultaneously with the leaves in October/
November. Fruits: Small (7 mm in diameter), subglobose, more or
less longitudinally divided into two segments when mature; initially
pale green, smooth and glossy and when ripening dull, grey-brown
and wrinkled: reach full maturity February/March. General: Wood
brown
medium-heavy (air-dry 780 kg/m’), rather hard, brittle, pale
with a reddish tinge, finely grained, suitable for manufacturin g of
ornaments; leaves may be poisonous but trees nevertheless broken
by elephants; seeds heavily parasitized by insects; grows slowly;
probably not cold resistant.

221
1CTE Brachylaena huillensis Lowveld silver oak
Medium-large (up to 15 m), evergreen, ‘ugly’ tree with a rather
long, bare stem and a slender, poorly spreading, very sparse crown;
young branchlets white and tomentose; old stems dark grey to black
and rough; bark forms longitudinal ridges which separate and
rejoin. Distribution: Limited to the Punda Maria and Nwambiya
sandveld areas as well as northern part of the Lebombo range;
sometimes in dense stands near Punda Maria. Leaves: Simple,
borne spirally around the branchlets; narrowly obovate, up to
8x 2,3 cm, medium-thick, mostly marginally entire; young leaves
covered with a dense, white, tomentose layer but old ones only on
underside; markedly revolute during times of drought. Flowers: Not
attractive, dirty white, about 2 cm long; persistent for a long period;
male and female flowers born on separate trees; flower buds appear
as early as July but only open much later (September to November)
after good rain. Fruits: Small, inconspicuous achenes; dispersed by
the wind; ripen during midsummer. General: Wood very hard,
fairly heavy (air-dry 930 kg/m’); sapwood pale brown with yellow
tinge; heartwood large and dark brown with paler blotches; finely
grained; cracks easily when drying; closely resembles wood of
Lebombo ironwood; leaves and branches utilized by elephants;
growth rate extremely slow; drought resistant, will probably not
withstand severe cold.

222
 PART Il

Key to the “shrub trees” of the Kruger Park

I Plants thornless and with simple leaves Page

a. Leaves in opposite pairs or in groups of three on the branchlets:
ieee leecaves hairlessiatallistages ORGEVElOPMENt fn.2...- eae ecesence nner eee ocen eee Group A 224
2. Leaves hairy — sometimes only when young - or hairs limited to
the fowersurtace( very Seldom hairless) 5.0.5 .c.sc02002.0.0n02aseeasenersesnecen
eons Group B 226

b. Leaves arranged alternately on the branchlets or close together

at the twig terminals:
1. Leaves marginally entire and hairless ...............-...cseeeeees sees eeeeseeneeeees Group C 228
2. Leaves marginally entire and hairy — even tomentose on one or
both surfaces (very seldom hairless)............::cceseeeeeneeeneeseeseneeeaeeeae eens Group D 231
3. Leaf margins may be entire or toothed or scalloped on the same plant....... Group E WS
4. Leaf margins always toothed or scalloped:
(ae aves aitless ceeeet ae suuandeer -cneecenasinae se | hse= es satencece see oeoesecnie es: Group F 236
(b) Leaves hairy — sometimes only when young or hairs
limiteditotheloweusuiiacesmeccerertce reece nesses actrees lacie Group G 237

eeeeneneees Group H
eensceeeeee
II. Plants thornless and leaves two-lobed....................s:ss 240

III. Plants thornless and leaves compound

a. Leaves palmately compound with three or five leaflets:
1. neeeeeeeeeneneeenee
Leaflets marginally entire ............:::seeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeens Group I
ceeeee 240
2. Leaf margins toothed or scalloped ........... -...cceseee seer eset
eeeetnereeeeeeee eee Group J 242
3. Leaf margins entire or toothed or scalloped on the same Plane. cues seers Group K 243

eteetttnteeee e Group L
teeseeenenttes
eeeeetee 244
b. Leaves paripinnately COMpOUNA ............ceee
eeeeeseeeeeee
eereeeeee seins Group M 245
c. Leavesimparipinnately compound...............:eeseee
ee Group N
ttence eeseeseeenness
eeeeeeeeeeeee 246
d. Leavesbipinnately compoOuUNG............-.:::eee

IV. Plants with thorns

a. Thorns long and straight:
O 246
Me IEPAVES SUPE 5 cence ore bece se teeetimesancap cirme noma arrsiscineemaicsetelseaieiineter Group
ncoeaceecccrnssm enerene Group P 249
DM. Leaves compound .......ccs.ccseeieecsnesrcrcerenescascnaeneessen

b. Thorns short, mostly curved, sometimes limited to the leaves:

s Group Q 250
Be WAVES SUDO xcccea rancanene ater aecqerarane ens escdaratenscencnn sro snanessersevsieelae
eaestererrenrso nseseetseesoeco ntennarastaners resees Group R Za,
BM, Leaves COMpPOUNG...... :.205..6sccsnnn

223
GROUPA
540 Combretum cf. kraussii Forest bushwillow
C. kraussii occurs from the coast to the eastern mountain ranges, mostly in areas with fairly
high rainfall and especially in densely vegetated ravines. Trees resembling this species have
been found in a ravine in the Malelane mountains. The leaves are simple, arranged in oppo-
site pairs, elliptic to obovate, up to 9 x 5 cm, shiny dark green above and silvery-white under-
neath, marginally entire, hairless; flowers creamy-white, borne in dense, axillary clusters;
fruits four-winged, up to 2 cm long, red to rusty-red when mature and brown when ripe.

540.1 Combretum microphyllum Flame creeper (= C. paniculatum subsp. microphyllum)

Exceptionally robust, scrambling or climbing shrub with very long, attractive sprays consist-
ing of masses of small, blood-red florets; fruits very small, four-winged; changes colour from
light green to reddish-brown then light brown when ripening; leaves fairly big and dark
green, ovate to roundish, glossy, hairless and marginally entire; fairly abundant in the beds
and on the banks of all the rivers and major spruits throughout the park; conspicuous when
flowering in September/October.

540.3 Combretum mossambicense Knobbly creeper

Sparse, multi-stemmed shrub with long, thin, trailing branches which can only be visualised
as a tree by someone with a super will-power and an extraordinary imagination; occurs
throughout the park but more common in the northern areas; the persistent petioles harden
and become short spines; leaves simple, borne in opposite pairs, oval to suborbicular,
usually about 6 x 3 cm, sometimes much bigger, finely hairy when young, hairless when ma-
ture, marginally entire, knobbly; inflorescences attractive, large (6 cm long), white to pink
pincushions, consist of a large number of densely packed florets and borne axillary on the
upper side of the trailing branches; fruits four-winged (sometimes five); suborbicular, up to
3 cm in diameter; reddish-green when mature and pale biscuit-coloured when ripe.

541.3. Combretum collinum subsp. taborense — Silver bushwillow

Differs from the two subspecies already described (gazense and suluense) only in so far as
that the leaves and fruits are hairless; the apices of the leaves are long and narrow and the
lower surfaces of the leaves are silvery-white; extremely rare and have only recently been
discovered in the Kruger Park, mainly on the sandstone ridges north of the Luvuvhu River.

553 Eugeniazeyheri Wild myrtle

Smallish shrub on sand (Pumbe), koppies and rocky riverbanks south of the Olifants River;
leaves elliptic to oblong, fairly small (4 x 2 cm); dark green, glossy, hairless, marginally en-
tire, gland-dotted underneath; flowers exceptionally small, axillary, solitary or in small
groups, white; fruits nearly spherical, fleshy, changes colour from yellowish to dark red
when ripening; edible. (Should probably be E. capensis subsp. zeyheri.)

594 Eucleacrispasubsp.crispa Blue Guarri

Very rare; confined to the Punda Maria/Pafuri area; apparently prefers a rocky habitat;
evergreen shrub; leaves simple, more or less in opposite pairs, oblong to nearly elliptic, up to
5x 1,5 cm, seldom bigger, light green to blue-green, glabrous when mature, Margins entire;
flowers very small green to yellow, in axillary racemes; fruits roundish, small (S mm diame-
ter), green at first, then red-brown and black when ripe, more or less hairless.

224
615 Chionanthus foveolatus subsp. foveolatus Common rock ironwood
(= Linociera foveolata subsp. foveolata)
Shrub with simple, oblong/ovate leaves arranged in opposite pairs; leaves narrow, up to 7 x
3,5 cm, glossy, dark green, hairless, marginally entire, with small but conspicuous indenta-
tions in the axils of the veins on the under side; flowers white, small (7 mm long), fragrant,
borne in small, axillary clusters, even on older twigs; fruit ovoid, small (2,5 cm long), slightly
fleshy, black when ripe; confined to a few ravines in the Malelane mountains.

622 Salvadorapersica Red mustard tree

Small, multi-stemmed shrub growing on or near riverbanks in the northern part of the park;
especially abundant along the Shingwedzi River; leaves simple, oblong/elliptic, up to 5 x 4 cm;
light green to dark green; glabrous, brittle, marginally entire, borne in opposite pairs; flow-
ers very small, yellowish-green, borne in small, terminal clusters; fruits small (1 cm in diame-
ter), suborbicular, fleshy, pale red to red when ripe, edible but have a peppery taste.

631 Strychnosusambarensis Blue bitterberry

Multi-stemmed shrub which is very rare and only grows in the Punda Maria sandveld; resem-
bles Strychnos decussata very closely; thornless; leaves simple, in opposite pairs, ovate to
broadly oval, small (usually about 5 x 2,3 cm), slightly glossy, dark green, hairless, slightly
leathery, three to five-veined from the base; apex tapering gradually and is fairly short, mar-
ginally entire; flowers very small, white to yellow-green, fragrant, borne in compact axillary
clusters; fruits spherical but with a narrow base, slightly fleshy, 1,5 cm in diameter, yellow
when ripe.

634 Nuxiafloribunda Forest elder

Very rare in the Kruger Park; only on the Luvuvhu River north-west of Punda Maria; multi-
green,
stemmed shrub; leaves simple, oblong to elliptic, rather big (up to 15 x 5 cm), glossy
of three; flowers very small (3 mm long), creamy-whit e,
marginally entire, borne in whorls
borne in large clusters (up to 30 cm long) in the leaf axils or at the branch terminals, fragrant;
brown when
fruits small (4 mm long), ovoid, partly enclosed by the persistent calyx, pale
ripe.

639 Acokanthera oppositifolia Common poisonbush

in the Pre-
Apparently confined to the southern part of the park, especially the rocky areas
tic to oblong, up to ORES acme
toriuskop/Malelane area; leaves in opposite pairs, ovate/ellip
shiny, red when young, glabrous, marginally entire; pe-
thick, leathery, hard, dark green,
wrinkled: flowers white on the inside and pink on the outside, tubiform, up to 1 cm
tiole
fleshy, up to 1,5 cm
long, fragrant, borne in dense, axillary clusters; fruits roughly ovoid,
from green to red and then purplish, glossy, smooth, hairless, toxic.
long, change colour

687. Tarennalittoralis Dune butterspoon bush

(= Enterospermum littorale)
Very rare, multi-stemmed shrub in the northern sandveld areas (Punda Maria/Nwambiya);
cm, leathery, glossy dark
leaves in opposite pairs, simple, elliptic to obovate, about 5 x 2,5
above, marginally entire; flowers white, small (+ 5 mm long), stamen conspicuous,
green
roundish, fleshy, small
longer than the corolla tube; flowers borne in terminal clusters; fruits
(8 mm), yellow when ripe.

225
700.1 Kraussia floribunda WildCornel (= K. schlechteri)
Only collected in the Pretoriuskop area of the park thus far; multi-stemmed shrub in thickets
along watercourses; leaves in opposite pairs, simple, oval, up to 9 x 4cm, upright, dark
green, shiny, marginally entire, small but conspicuous pockets occur in the vein axils; flowers
creamy-white, small (1 cm in diameter), borne in axillary clusters; fruits nearly spherical,
8 mm in diameter, edible, black when ripe.

711 Canthiumobovatum Quar

Thornless, multi-stemmed shrub growing on the koppies and along dry watercourses south
of the Olifants River in the park; leaves in opposite pairs, simple, obovate to narrowly ovate,
up to 5 x 3 cm, shiny, dark green, hairless, with pits in the axils of the larger veins on the
lower surface, marginally entire; flowers creamy, fragrant, small (1 cm in diameter), borne
in axillary clusters; fruits almost spherical, small (5 mm in diameter), black when ripe.

722 Pavettazeyheri Small-leaved bride’s bush

Smallish shrub in the Crocodile Bridge/Lower Sabie area; leaves in opposite pairs, simple,
narrowly oblong (4 x 0,8 cm), leathery, dark green, hairless, sharply pointed, marginally en-
tire, with the characteristic, dark bacterial nodules in the blade; flowers white, small (1 cm
long), borne in dense, axillary clusters; fruits roundish, up to 1 cm in diameter, black when
ripe, crowned with persistent sepals.

GROUP B
534 Combretum celastroides Trailing bushwillow
Subspecies celastroides occurs in the park; exceptionally robust, multi-stemmed shrub with
trailing branchlets, in alluvial soil next to the Luvuvhu River but a fairly small shrub in the
Nwambiya sandveld; flowers small, yellow, borne in long (up to 12 cm), sparse spikes; fruits
small, four-winged, pale brown when ripe; leaves simple, in opposite pairs, elliptic, about 7 x
3 cm, green and hairless above, finely hairy underneath, especially on the veins, marginally
entire, turning red to red-brown in autumn. (This plant probably is C. padoides — Thicket
bushwillow — and not C. celastroides).

642 Holarrhenapubescens Fever pod

Sparse, multi-stemmed shrub (seldom smallish tree) in the Punda Maria sandveld; bark ex-
ceptionally thick, forming longitudinal ridges, corky; contains latex; leaves simple, large (up
to 14 x 7 cm), dark green, smooth, glossy, broadly oval, sparsely hairy, marginally entire,
arranged in opposite pairs; flowers white, fragrant, conspicuous, about 2 cm in diameter,
borne in dense, terminal clusters; flowers for a long period of time; fruits long (up to 20 cm)
and thin, pod-like, pendent, borne in pairs, initially green with white dots and dark brown
when ripe; seeds crowned with tufts of silky hairs at both ends.

667 Clerodendrum glabrum_ Resin-leaf

Rather large shrub with long, lax branches; associated with thickets on the banks of water-
courses as well as on termitaria; widely spread in the park but more abundant in the south-
western (Pretoriuskop/Malelane) and northern (Punda Maria/Pafuri) sections; leaves sim-
ple, ovate/elliptic, fairly big (up to 10 x 7 cm), soft, thin, softly hairy, marginally entire,
borne in opposite pairs or whorls of three or four; flowers white, about 1 cm in diameter,
borne in large, terminal clusters; fruits spherical, 1 cm in diameter, persistent calyx at the
base, borne in dense clusters; crushed leaves malodorous.

226
667.1 Clerodendrum myricoides Small resin-leaf
Multi-stemmed shrub in thickets and on koppies and ridges in the southern part of the park
(Pretoriuskop/Malelane) as well as the Punda Maria region; leaves in opposite pairs or
whorls of three or four, simple, ovate, up to 9 x 5 cm, soft, densely hairy on both surfaces,
margins toothed; flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, white with one blue petal, borne in sparse,
axillary clusters; fruits two to four-lobed, oval, up to 1 cm long, turn red and then black when
ripening; crushed leaves strongly malodorous.

689.1 Coddiarudis Small bone-apple (= Xeromphis rudis, = Randia rudis)

Multi-stemmed, thornless shrub occurring throughout the park; leaves simple, borne in
dense groups on short, lateral twigs, broadly obovate, small (2 x 1,5 cm), dark green, hairless
or sparsely hairy, marginally entire; flowers white turning yellow, up to 1,5 cm in diameter,
fragrant, like the well-known gardenia; flowers borne in axillary groups; fruits spherical to
slightly ovoid, small (8 mm), very hard; persistent calyx at the top characteristic.

690.2 Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis var. goetzei Yellow gardenia

(= G. asperula)
Very rare shrub/small tree only occurring in the Punda Maria area; lateral twigs in whorls of
three, covered by rusty-brown powder; leaves simple, in opposite pairs or whorls of three,
narrowly obovate, large (up to 12 x 8 cm), glossy green, slightly rough due to short, stiff
hairs, bundles of hairs in the axils of the veins on the under side, marginally entire; flowers
white turning yellow, up to 4,5 cm long and 4 cm in diameter, fragrant; fruits ovoid, 5 cm
long, softly hairy, yellow-brown when ripe, crowned by the persistent calyx.

698 Tricalysiacapensis Forest coffee

Very rare small shrub which has only been found in thickets in the Nwambiya sandveld in the
park; leaves simple, in opposite pairs, ovate to oblong, about 3 x 1 cm, green, hairless above,
hairs on the veins and in the vein axils underneath, marginally entire; petiole hairy; flowers
small, white, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, fragrant, borne in axillary clusters, fruits ovoid, small
(8 mm long), become red and then black during ripening, persistent calyx at the top charac-
teristic.

707 Canthium huillense Bushveld rock alder (= C. wildii)

simple,
Multi-stemmed, deciduous, thornless shrub in the Punda Maria vicinity; rare; leaves
in opposite pairs, ovate, up to about 8 x 4 cm, light green to dark green, hairless to finely
hairy, marginally entire, characterized by small hair bundles in the vein axils on the lower
strongly
surface; petioles hairy; veins dark; flowers small (1,5 cm in diameter), creamy,
sometimes
scented, borne in dense, axillary clusters; fruits small (7 mm), spherical to ovoid,
two-lobed, brown to black when ripe.

710 Canthium mundianum Rock alder

leaves
Abundant in the koppies south of the Sabie River; multi-stemmed shrub; thornless;
in opposite pairs, oval to suborbicul ar, up to 7 x 5,5 cm, pale green to dark green,
simple,
of hair in the
sometimes grey-green, usually densely hairy, marginally entire, with pockets
in diameter), pale
axils of the larger veins on the lower surface; flowers very small (5 mm
borne in short clusters on short lateral twigs; fruits asymmetric ally spherical or two-
yellow,
identified as C. gilfillanii (706) has recently
lobed, up to 9 x 5 mm, black when ripe. (A plant
Punda Maria area. According to some authorities the slight differences
been found in the
plants are therefore
between the plants do not warrant separation into two species. All these
at present classified as C. mundianum. )

227
712.1 Canthium setiflorum Rough-leaved rock alder
Thornless shrub apparently confined to the northern area of the park (Punda Maria/Pafu-
ri/Nwambiya); branchlets roughly hairy; leaves simple, in opposite pairs on short, lateral
twigs, small, ovate, up to 4 x 1 cm, hairless or with rough hairs, marginally entire; flowers
pale yellow, extremely small (3 mm long), sepals hairy; fruits ovoid, small (6 mm), single or
two-lobed, black when ripe.

714.1. Pachystigma macrocalyx Crowned medlar

Thornless shrub which is scarce in the park and apparently confined to the ridges in the
Punda Maria sandveld area; leaves simple, in opposite pairs, ovate to elliptic, on average
about 8 x 4. cm, sparsely to densely hairy, marginally entire; flowers yellow-green, up to 135
cm in diameter, the hairy sepals persistent and the petals caducous, borne in axillary clusters;
fruits almost spherical to ovoid, fleshy, about 2 cm long, longitudinally ridged, orange when
ripe; persistent sepals conspicuous at the top.

716 Pavetta gardeniifolia var. gardeniifolia ©Common bride's bush

716.1 Pavetta gardeniifolia var. subtomentosa (=P. assimilis)
At present two varieties (assimilis and subtomentosa) are recognized but there is Some uncer-
tainty as to the identification of the plant occurring in the Kruger Park. It is a shrub appa-
rently confined to the Lebombo range north of the Olifants River as well as the Punda Maria
area; the leaves are in opposite pairs, simple, obovate, up to 7 x 3,5 cm, pale green, gla-
brous, sometimes apparently hairy, marginally entire; bacterial nodules can be seen as dark
spots in the leaves when held up against the light; flowers white to creamy, small (1 cm in
diameter), fragrant, borne in axillary clusters; fruits small (5S mm), spherical, black when
ripe; leaves closely resemble those of P. schumanniana.

721 Pavettaschumanniana Poison bride's bush

Large, single-stemmed, thornless shrub or small tree; fairly common in the Pretoriuskop/
Malelane area as well as the Shangoni/Punda Maria area in deep, sandy soil; leaves simple in
opposite pairs or whorls of three, exceptionally hairy, soft, knobbly, slightly rough, obovate,
large (up to 12 x 5 cm — usually smaller), marginally entire, with the scattered bacterial nod-
ules, characteristic of the genus, in the blade; flowers white, borne in axillary clusters on
short, lateral twigs, sepals prominent; fruits small (1 cm in diameter), spherical, black when
ripe.

GROUP C
107 Monodorajunodii Green apple
Fairly large, slender, multi-stemmed shrub; usually in thickets in rocky areas or the sandy
regions; confined to the Punda Maria/Pafuri region as well as the northern part of the Le-
bombo range; leaves rather big (up to 16 x 3,5 cm), simple, alternate, elliptic to lanceolate,
shiny green, thin, hairless, marginally entire; flowers quite extraordinary, mostly wine-red
(seldom greenish-yellow), the three outer petals big, flat and spreading, the central three
smaller and upright; fruits subglobose, up to 4 cm in diameter, initially green with white
spots, dark brown and wrinkled when ripe.

108.2 Uvarialucida subsp. virens Large cluster pear

Shrub or scrambling plant; evergreen, only recently discovered in the Kruger Park, in the
Nwambiya sandveld; rare; young branches covered by red hairs; leaves simple, alternate, el-
liptic/oblong, up to 10 x 5 cm, hard, greyish-green, for all practical purposes hairless, margi-

228
nally entire, veins conspicuous; flowers solitary or in small clusters, terminal or opposite to
the leaves, up to 2,5 cm in diameter, fleshy, yellow-green, anthers conspicuous; fruits borne
in clusters; up to 5 x 2 cm, oblong/cylindrical, segmented, finely hairy, orange-brown when
ripe.
126 Bosciamossambicensis Broad-leaved shepherd's tree
Largish, dense, untidy, deciduous shrub; only grows in brackish, low-lying areas in the park
(for instance at Leeupan as well as between Skukuza and Malelane), rather rare; leaves
borne in dense groups or alternately, simple, oblong, fairly large (up to 7 x 4,5 cm), hard,
hairless, dark green, marginally entire, with a sharp ‘spine’ at the apex; flowers small, pincu-
shion-like, borne in clusters at the branch terminals, the stamens being the most prominent
component; fruits globose, up to 2 cm in diameter, yellow to reddish when ripe; leaves shed
during summer (January to February) and new leaves and flowers appear shortly after.

127 Boscia foetidasubsp. rehmanniana Stink shepherd's tree

Smallish shrub with exceptionally hard branchlets; often found in rocky situations; leaves
simple, very small (mostly 1 cm long or even less), obovate, leathery, green, marginally en-
tire, borne in dense groups; flowers small, inconspicuous, greenish, borne in dense clusters
on the branches; fruits globose, about 1 cm in diameter, softly hairy, yellow when ripe; flow-
ers and freshly sawn wood malodorous; only found in the Nwambiya area.

129 Cadabaaphylla Black storm

This species is abundant and well-known in the Karoo and the dry western parts of the coun-
try. However, the identification of the particular plant recently found in the Pumbe sandveld
north-east of Nwanedzi, is questionable. Normally it is a very dense, twiggy and more or less
leafless shrub; twigs are smooth, green and spinescent; leaves (only on very young branch-
lets) simple and very small (10 x 2 mm); flowers attractive, produced in masses, up to 3 cm in
diameter, without petals but the sepals are dark red (sometimes yellow or orange), stamens
red as well: flowers borne in flat, axillary heads; fruits large (9 x 1 cm), cylindrical, warty,
sticky, slightly segmented.

223 Baphia massaiensis subsp. obovata var. obovata Sand camwood

where it
Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub (up to 2,5 m), confined to the Nwambiya sandveld
low resistance against fire and therefore often burned back to ground level;
is abundant:
flowers
leaves simple, alternate, buff-green, marginally entire, obovate, up to 9 x 5 cm;
pods
beautiful, snow-white with yellow near the base, borne in smallish clusters, fragrant;
long (12 cm), narrow, very hard, glossy and brown when ripe, dehisce while still on
relatively
the plants.

248 Erythroxylumdelagoense Small-leaved coca tree

and knobbly;
Mostly multi-stemmed shrub on koppies south of the Sabie River; bark grey
alternate, oblong/lan ceolate to obovate, small (up to 3 x 1,5 cm), light green,
leaves simple,
white to greenish, mostly solitary or in
thin, hairless, marginally entire; inconspicuous florets
ovoid (1 cm long), fleshy, edible, red when ripe.
pairs in the leaf axils; fruits small,

249 Erythroxylumemarginatum Common coca tree

bark grey,
Multi-stemmed shrub on koppies and ridges as well as the Nwambiya sandveld;
oval to oblong/lan ceolate, simple, alternate, marginally entire,
smooth to rough; leaves
thick and hard, veins
mostly about 5 x 2 cm (sometimes larger), hairless, dark green, fairly
in the leaf axils; fruits
conspicuous; flowers small, white, fragrant, solitary or in small clusters
small (1 cm long), ovoid, fleshy, edible, red when ripe.

229
309 Securinegavirosa White-berry bush
spread-
Abundant throughout the park. Multi-stemmed shrub, up to about 2 m high, slightly
ing (V-shaped), twiggy; leaves simple, very small, thin-textur ed, glabrous; florets very small,
greenish-yellow; fruits small, trilocular, white when ripe, fleshy, edible.

310 Margaritaria discoidea subsp. nitida Egossa red pear

(= Phyllanthus discoideus)
Throughout the park but usually only in dense bush groups. Untidy shrub with fairly small
(up to 8 x 4cm), thin, ovate to oval, soft, hairless, alternately arranged leaves; leaf margins
entire; flowers inconspicuous, greenish-yellow; male florets in clusters in leaf axils, female
florets in pairs, without petals, sexes on separate plants; fruits three-lobed, yellowish when
ripe, about | cm in diameter.

311 Phyllanthus reticulatus Potato bush

Widely spread throughout the park; associated with dense thickets, often on riverbanks;
twiggy, multi-stemmed shrub with long, lax branchlets; leaves oval, small (2,5 x 1,5 cm),
thin, soft, marginally entire and with the veins conspicuous on the lower surface; flowers
very small, yellowish-green, borne in small clusters in the leaf axils; flowers appear in spring
and smell like baked potatoes, especially discernible in the evenings; fruits small (6 mm in
diameter), black berries.

322 Brideliacathartica subsp. cathartica Blue sweetberry

Robust, climbing plant with a deeply grooved stem or a distorted shrub with a twiggy crown
(on Ship mountain); along rivers, on ridges and koppies, often in thickets, throughout the
park; the leaves are small, soft, smooth, hairless and marginally entire and arranged alterna-
tely on the twigs; male and female florets very small, greenish-yellow, borne in small axillary
clusters; fruits slightly oval, up to 9 x 7 mm, black when ripe, edible.

344 Euphorbia guerichiana Paperbark milkbush

Only in mopane woodland in the north of the park; small, thornless shrub; leaves fall early
and plants therefore bare for long periods; young branchlets long and thin; bark peels off in
thin, yellow-brown flakes; leaves simple, arranged alternately, small, obovate, mostly only 5
x 2 cm, slightly fleshy, hairless, marginally entire; florets (cyathia) yellow, in groups on
short, lateral twigs; fruits small, glabrous, three-lobed.

357.1. Synadeniumcupulare Dead-man’s tree

Small, multi-stemmed, poorly branched, deciduous shrub or small, single-stemmed tree in
the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area, Satara, and the vicinity of Punda Maria; bark smooth and
grey to green; leaves more or less ovate, up to 10 x 6 cm, fleshy, midrib conspicuous and
tinged wih red, marginally entire; flowers yellowish, small, borne in axillary or terminal
heads; fruits very small (S mm), round, pale brown when ripe; latex very poisonous and
causes severe pain if a drop gets into an eye.

437.1 Dodonaea angustifolia Cape sand olive

Multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub; leaves narrowly oblong, glossy green, up to 10 x 3 cm,
marginally entire, sticky; flowers yellowish-green, borne in terminal clusters, male and fe-
male flowers on separate trees or sometimes bisexual; fruits small with two or three wings
(resemble fruits of Pteleopsis myrtifolia), greenish-red, about 1,5 cm in diameter; planted in
Pretoriuskop rest camp; also grows along the Sabie River but it is likely that this species was
introduced to the Kruger Park.

230
548 Terminaliabrachystemma_ False silver cluster-leaf
Since the differences between this species and Terminalia sericea are rather slight, and hybri-
disation also takes place in nature, we have, until quite recently been unaware of the exis-
tence of this species in the park. This species is fairly rare, mostly occurs as a multi-stemmed
shrub, only grows in deep, sandy soil and can for all practical purposes only be distinguished
from T. sericea because its leaves are larger, dark green on the upper side, bluish-green on
the under side and almost devoid of any hairs.

590 Vitellariopsis marginata Bush milkwood

(= Mimusops marginata, = Austromimusops marginata)
Large, evergreen shrub or smallish tree on the southern part of the Lebombo range near the
Crocodile River; leaves fairly big (up to 10 x 6 cm), simple, nearly oval to obovate, dark
green, glossy, marginally entire, closely grouped at the branch terminals; flowers creamy-
white, axillary and in small groups, sepals hairy (brown); fruits globose to ovoid and slightly
asymmetrical, up to 5 x 3,5 cm, reddish-purple when ripe; unpalatable.

600 Eucleaschimperi var. schimperi Bush guarri

600.1 Euclea schimperi var. daphnoides White-stem guarri
Multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub; var. daphnoides grows on the low-lying brackish areas and
riverbanks in the southern part of the park as well as the Lebombo while var. schimperi 1s
apparently confined to the northern part (Punda Maria/Pafuri); leaves resemble those of Eu-
clea divinorum, arranged alternately or more or less in opposite pairs; leaves simple, nar-
rowly obovate to narrowly oblong, up to 9 x 3 cm, mostly smaller, glossy, light green, hard,
leathery, hairless, marginally entire; flowers creamy, fragrant, borne in short, axillary clus-
ters: fruits small (7 mm in diameter), globose and purplish-black when ripe.

647.3 Adenium multiflorum Impala lily

sandstone
Throughout the park, often on low-lying, brackish areas but also on the rocky
mostly single-ste mmed; due to utilisation
ridges; shrub with a succulent stem and branches;
influence of veld fires, usually small but may reach 3 to 4 m under favour-
by game, as well as
together at the
able conditions: bark smooth, reddish-brown to grey; leaves simple, close
marginally
twig terminals, obovate, up to 10 x 7 cm, fairly thick, glossy, grey-green, hairless,
attractive, white to pink with red fringes, trumpet-sh aped, up to 5 cm in diam-
entire; flowers
winter months; fruits long, cigar-shape d
eter, borne in terminal clusters; flowers during the
cm, greyish-br own when mature, finely hairy, dehisce lengthwise on
twin ‘pods’, up to 24 x 2
crowned with hair bun-
one side only to release the light brown, soft, cylindrical seeds; seeds
dles at both ends.

GROUP D
50.1 Ficus capreifolia Sandpaper fig
with permanent water, oc-
Shrub with long, lax branches; dense stands along watercourses
the park but rather rare; leaves oval to oblong, up to 11 x 4,5 cm, dark
curs throughout
sometim es toothed; fruits (figs) pear-
green, as rough as sandpaper, margins entire but
when ripe; leaves actually used as sandpape r.
shaped, up to 3 cm long, yellowish

70 Pouzolziahypoleuca Soap nettle

ovate, very soft,
Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub; leaves simple, rather big (10 x 7,5 cm),
surface covered by a dense, white
upper surface rough and dark green to buff-green, lower

231
layer of felt, marginally entire, with three large veins originating in the base; flowers very
small, greenish-white, borne in small, axillary clusters, male and female separately but on
the same plants; fruits small nutlets.

105.1 Artabotrys brachypetalus Large hook-berry

Robust climber with characteristic curling flower stalks (peduncles); only occurs in the
Punda Maria sandveld, mostly in rocky areas; leaves ovate to elliptic, up to 11 x 6 cm, leath-
ery, bluish-green or bright green, often velvety below, marginally entire; flowers solitary on
the peduncles, yellowish, about 2 cm in diameter; fruits borne in clusters, up to 2,5 cm long,
ovoid, purple to purplish-black when ripe; galls resembling the fruits often present.

108.1 Uvariacaffra Small cluster pear

Small climbing plant, mostly in dense thickets; seen only in the Pretoriuskop and Punda
Maria areas; young branches hairy, rusty-brown; leaves oval/oblong, up to 11 x 4 cm (mostly
smaller), dark green, soft, thin, glossy, marginally entire; flowers solitary, up to 3 cm in di-
ameter, sepals (three) hairy, petals (six) greenish; fruits compound with five or six segments
each about 2 cm long, orange when ripe.

109 Xylopia parviflora Bush bitterwood

According to the available literature the particular tree in the park is this species and not_X.
odoratissima, as it had been identified previously by the National Herbarium; possibly both
are present. X. parviflora normally occurs in evergreen forests where it can reach 30 m in
height. Its leaves are very narrow (1 to 4,5 cm wide) but about as long as those of odoratis-
sima and the young branches are less hairy. For the rest the two species are very similar. Xy-
lopia is confined to the Punda Maria sandveld area.

129.1 Cadabanatalensis Natal worm-bush

Medium-large, untidy shrub; leaves simple, alternate or in dense groups on very short lateral
twigs, oval, up to 4x 1,2 cm, dark green, thin, mostly hairless, marginally entire and with
sharp ‘spines’ at the apices; flowers solitary on long stalks, axillary or in groups, petals ab-
sent, sepals petal-like, mauve; fruits narrowly cylindrical (5 x 0,5 cm), knobbly; thus far
found only between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie.

297 Turraeanilotica Bushveld honeysuckle tree

Grows in the Pretoriuskop area (sandy soil on granite) as well as on the same soil type north
of Shingwedzi. Single-stemmed, slender, deciduous shrub, about 3 m high; bark grey and
rough; branchlets conspicuously, softly hairy; leaves simple, alternate, large (up to 16 x 10
cm), oval, lower surfaces particularly densely hairy, marginally entire; flowers whitish-green
and later yellow, borne in short, dense clusters on young branches; fruits subglobose but flat-
tened at the base and with a dent at the top, glossy yellowish-green, conspicuously seg-
mented or ribbed.

303 Securidacalongepedunculata Violet tree

May be up to 6 m in height, but in the park (sandveld north-west of Punda Maria) it is a
small, sparse shrub; leaves simple, alternate or arranged in small groups, broadly oblong to
narrowly oval, small (up to 5 x 2 cm — mostly smaller), finely hairy when young, marginally
entire; flowers small but very conspicuous and attractive, pink to purple, fragrant, borne in
large, axillary and terminal clusters; fruits subglobose nuts with longitudinal ridges and large
wings (up to 4 cm long), biscuit-coloured when mature; roots thick and fleshy; oil extracted
from the roots contains 99% of methyl salicylate, the active substance in the well-known
‘wintergreen’.

232
328.1 Croton gratissimus var. subgratissimus Hairy lavender fever berry
Widely distributed on koppies, ridges and riverbanks in the southern areas of the park as
well as the Punda Maria area; multi-stemmed shrub with yellow-brown branchlets; leaves
simple, arranged alternately on the twigs, lanceolate to oval, usually about 7 x 4 cm, upper
surface glossy green and lower surface silvery and dotted with glandular red-brown scales,
marginally entire; flowers small, yellow, borne in long spikes with only a few female florets
and an abundance of male florets; fruits three-lobed, fairly small (1 cm diameter), yellow
when ripe; stellate hairs occur on upper leaf surface in case of var. subgratissimus only.

329.1 Crotonsteenkampianus Marsh fever berry

Confined to the Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri; multi-stemmed shrub in dense thickets;
young branches and lower surfaces of leaves densely covered with stellate hairs; leaves sim-
ple, cordate to nearly round (usually 13 x 7 cm), marginally entire, pale green; flowers
cream-coloured, borne in spikes up to 4 cm long, only a few female florets at the base; fruits
nearly round, small (6 mm), prominently three-lobed, softly hairy, yellow when ripe.

470 Dombeyakirkii River wild pear

Shrub with long, lax branches; leaves and flowers closely resemble those of D. cymosa (see
text) but in this species the small leaflets (bracteoles) on the flower stalks are situated di-
rectly below the florets; in cymosa they are distributed over the entire length of the flower
stalks; flowers during late summer or autumn; thus far found only at Pafuri.

493 Xylothecakraussiana African dogrose

Small shrub with buff-green, soft, densely hairy, simple leaves; flowers large, snow-white,
found
rose-like: fruits buff-green, fairly large with orange fruit pulp and red and black seeds;
only in the Nwambiya sandveld south of Pafuri.

597 Eucleanatalensis subsp. natalensis Natal guarrl

(= E. multiflora)
on brack-
Widely spread, multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub which, in the park, often grows
areas as well as on the banks of spruits and rivers; fairly abundant in the Pre-
ish, low-lying
to oblong, up to 10x
toriuskop area; leaves simple, arranged alternately on the twigs, elliptic
and sometimes sparsely hairy on the upper surface, densely hairy
4 cm, dark green, shiny
entire; flowers small, yellow-gre en, hairy, with an unpleasant scent, borne
below, marginally
globose berries (7 mm in diameter), sparsely hairy,
in compact clusters in the leaf axils; fruits
change colour from green to red and ultimately black.

601 and 601.1 Euclea undulata Common guarri and Small-leaved guarri
var. myrtina (601.1) are recognized,
In South Africa two varieties, var. undulata (601) and
Park. Evergreen, multi-
but not in Zimbabwe. Both are apparently present in Kruger
through out the park and especiall y on black soils in low-lying areas
stemmed shrub occurring
alternate or in pseudo-whorls,
but also on sand (Nwambiya); up to 3 m high. Leaves simple,
elliptic to suborbic ular, 1 to 10 cm long, shiny,
close together at the twig terminals, narrowly
above but with rusty-br own hairs undernea th, marginally entire,
dark green and hairless
groups, fruits small (6 mm in diameter),
wavy; flowers white to pale yellow, borne in axillary
and then purple to black (when ripening ). Leaves of myr-
globose, changes from green to red
tina much smaller and very narrow, nearly linear.

233
605 Diospyros lycioides subsp. lycioides Karroo bluebush
605.1 Diospyros lycioides subsp. sericea Natal bluebush
The differences between the two subspecies are rather slight and therefore ‘pooled’ in this
description. Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrubs often occurring in fairly large groups. Espe-
cially abundant in the Pretoriuskop area but also present in the Punda Maria and Pafuri re-
gions. Leaves simple, close together at the twig terminals, narrowly obovate, up to 8 x 3 cm
(mostly smaller), rather thick, greyish-green, softly hairy, marginally entire; flowers creamy-
white, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, solitary, axillary; fruits fairly large (2 cm in diameter), ovoid
with a sharp mucro at the top, initially softly hairy but later hairless, red, shiny and smooth,
persistent sepals at the base quite conspicuous; fruits persist on the plants for a long time.
(Leaves of subsp. /ycioides up to 4 cm long and those of subsp. sericea up to 8 cm long.)

607.1 Diospyros natalensis subsp. nummularia Lebombo jackal berry

Two subspecies are recognized in South Africa, nummularia (Lebombo jackal berry) and na-
talensis (Small-leafed jackal berry). This sub-division is not recognized by all authorities.
Multi-stemmed, much-branched, deciduous shrub in rocky situations in the south of the park
(Lebombo and Malelane mountains). Leaves borne horizontally and alternately on the very
thin twigs; leaves simple, elliptic to ovate, small, 3 x 1,5 cm, glossy and dark green above,
hairy when young, marginally entire; flowers small, white, solitary or in small, axillary
groups, up to 7 mm in diameter; fruits slender, ovoid, up to 1,2 x 0,6 cm, sharply pointed;
nearly half the fruit enclosed by the persistent calyx, yellow when ripe.

609.1 Diospyros usambarensis

(National number allocated by myself since its recent discovery in the Kruger Park is a first
for South Africa and it has as yet not been incorporated in the National Tree List.) Appar-
ently confined to the Pumbe sandveld on the Lebombo north-west of Nwanedzi. Locally it is
a deciduous shrub occurring in large groups, although it may apparently reach 10 m. Leaves
close together at the twig terminals, up to 10 x 5 cm, obovate to elliptic, glossy and dark
green above, marginally entire; flowers white, axillary, borne in small clusters (three to four
flowers); fruits ovoid, fleshy, up to 2 cm long, yellow when ripe, partly covered by golden
hairs; large (up to 3 cm long), persistent sepals at the base conspicuous and characteristic and
sometimes enclose the fruits completely.

610 Diospyros villosa Hairy star-apple

Rare, deciduous, spreading shrub which has thus far been found only along the larger water-
courses and on koppies south of the Sabie River. Leaves simple, obovate/oblong to broadly
oblong, very small (up to 2,5 cm long), thin, fairly hard, stiff, covered by white to brown
hairs when young but later hairless above, marginally entire; flowers yellow, up to 1 cm long,
axillary, solitary or in small groups; fruits globose but flattened at both ends. five-angled,
fleshy, up to 2,5 x 3. cm, covered by long, yellow hairs, split into five segments when ripe.

611 Diospyros whyteana Bladdernut

Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub which has been found in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area,
the southern part of the Lebombo and Nwambiya sandveld. Leaves simple, oblong or long
obovate, up to 5,5 x 2 cm, glossy and dark green above, hairy underneath, marginally entire,
arranged alternately on the twigs, turn red-brown when drying; flowers white to pale yellow,
fragrant, up to 1 cm long, stalks hairy, borne in small groups; fruits very characteristi
c,
ovoid, up to 2 cm in diameter, red when ripe, enclosed by the inflated, bladder-like structure
consisting of the joined sepals.

234
GROUP E
458 Grewiabicolor Witrosyntjie
Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub up to 2 m high; leaves smallish (up to 7 x 3,2 cm), oval,
symmetrical at the base, marginally entire to finely serrate, greyish-white and slightly tomen-
tose underneath; flowers fairly small, axillary and yellow; fruits two-lobed or simple, each
lobe about 6 min in diameter, red-brown when ripe, hairless; edible; widely spread in the
park but especially conspicuous in the knobthorn-veld on the eastern side, thus on basalt
soils.

461.1 Grewiamicrothyrsa Lebombo raisin

Smallish shrub in the northern areas of the park, especially the sandveld areas of Punda
Maria and Nwambiya; often associated with dense vegetation; leaves oblong, rather small
or
(up to 5,5 x 2,5 cm), bases symmetrical, nearly hairless, dark green, glossy, margins entire
finely toothed in the upper halves; flowers mauve to pink, up to 1,5 cm in diameter; flowers
hair-
rather poorly and over a very long period; fruits characteristically pear-shaped, glossy,
less, up to 1,3 cm long, brownish-red when ripe, fruit stalks relatively long and very thin;
fruits edible.

468.1 Dombeyaburgessiae Pink wild pear

area; rare;
Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub near permanent water in the Punda Maria
dark green above, sparsely hairy on
leaves very large (about 10 x 12 cm), three to five-lobed,
scalloped or entire, bases deeply lobed; flowers pink to white, attrac-
both surfaces, margins
hairy nutlets;
tive, up to 5 cm in diameter, borne in large, terminal clusters; fruits very small,
very attractive decorative plant.

470.1 Dombeyapulchra Silver wild pear

Pretoriuskop area;
Rare shrub confined to the dense thickets on the banks of spruits in the
resembles D. burgessiae but the flowers are always white, sometimes pinkish in the
closely
densely hairy; fruits are
centre; lower surfaces of the leaves are pale, sometimes white and
inconspicuous, small, hairy nutlets.

479 Ochna arborea var. arborea Cape plane (= O. oconnorii)

(The plant in Kruger Park at present identified as Ochna arborea only). Evergreen shrub,
n flakes; leaves oblong, up to
mostly on riverbanks; bark grey, smooth, peels off in paper-thi
much bigger), leathery, hard, glossy-gr een (brown and exceptionally
5 x 2 cm (sometimes
or with large scallops); flowers
shiny when young), margins finely toothed (sometimes entire
fall early; fruits consist of one to five carpels joined at
yellow, fairly large, petals crinkled and
about 10 mm long, kidney-s haped, glossy, brownish -black when ripe,
the bases only, each
become pink; rare in the park, only in
enclosed by the enlarged, persistent sepals which
Nwambiya sandveld.

654 Cordiaovalis Snotberry (=C. gharaf)

on
Small, multi-stemmed shrub to a single-stemmed, low-branching shrub or small tree
and basalt soils (north of Satara) , all
brackish flats (Sabie River), koppies (Shingwedzi area) bark very
and definite ly merit further investi gation;
of which can not be the same species
oval to suborbicular, up to 8 x 6 cm,
smooth, grey-green, peels off in large flakes; leaves
margins entire or scalloped; petioles pu-
fairly thick, buff-green, rough, hairy underneath,
h-yello w, tubifor m, about 1 cm in diameter, fragrant, borne
bescent; flowers white to greenis
fruits ovoid, up to 2 cm long, sharply
in dense, terminal clusters; sepals and stalks hairy;
the bases, yellow when ripe; fruit pulp jelly-like.
pointed, enclosed by the persistent calyx at

pb)
723.4 Vernoniacolorata Lowveld bitter tea
Multi-stemmed shrub on sandy soil as well as along watercourses in the Pretoriouskop and
Punda Maria areas of the park; leaves simple, arranged alternately, up to 12 x 6 cm, ovate/el-
liptic, dark green, upper surfaces roughly hairy and lower surfaces woolly hairy, margins en-
tire or finely toothed; flowers up to 1 cm long, mauve changing to white, borne in large ter-
minal panicles; fruits inconspicuous, very small (3 mm long), with a bundle of hair (pappus)
at one end.

GROUP F
36.3 Salix woodii Common wild willow (= S. wilmsii)
It appears that the final status of the plants in this genus has not been determined as yet. I
have therefore worked on the assumption that only one Salix species occurs in the Kruger
Park. The plants are either shrubs or very small trees with long, lax branchlets that grow
along watercourses where there is water year round, in the southern area as well as in the far
northern region (Punda Maria/Pafuri). Leaves simple, alternate, narrowly oblong, 12 x 1,5
cm, glossy, greyish-green to dark green above, silvery-grey underneath, usually hairless,
margins finely serrate; florets very small, closely packed into small spikes; male spikes dense
and up to 5 cm long, yellowish; female spikes much shorter, greenish; fruits inconspicuous
capsules, woolly, hairy.

38 Myricaserrata Lance-leafwaxberry (= M. conifera)

Shrub or small tree; has been found only along the Sabie River; leaves narrowly elliptic, sim-
ple, arranged alternately, about 10 x 2 cm, yellow when young and yellowish-green when
mature, aromatic, margins conspicuously toothed, gland-dotted; flowers small, borne in
short spikes; male spikes short, brownish-red, female spikes longer and green; fruits small,
subglobose (5 mm), bluish-black when ripe.

334 Alchornea laxiflora Vendabead string (= A. schlechteri)

Fairly generally distributed in the sandveld areas of Punda Maria and Nwambiya; along the
Luvuvhu River shrubs of up to 3 m high; leaves large (20 x 9 cm), soft, margins irregularly
toothed, dark green turning red in autumn; flowers borne in reddish spikes (up to 4 cm
long), male florets small, red, in groups of three or four; female florets very small, inconspic-
uous; fruits two- to three-lobed, woody, up to 6 mm in diameter, dark brown when ripe.

338 Suregada africana Common canary berry

Slender shrub with lax branches; leaves oblong/lanceolate to obovate, up to 5 x 3 cm, mar-
gins toothed or scalloped; numerous small, pellucid glands present; flowers small, yellowish,
borne in small, dense clusters on short, lateral twigs; fruits small (1 cm diameter), three-
lobed, yellowish when ripe, glabrous; thus far found only on koppies south of Tshokwane as
well as the Malelane mountains.

410 Cassine aethiopica Kooboo berry

Thornless, dense shrub associated with dense thickets on brackish, low-lying areas
and river-
banks in the area south of the Olifants River; leaves exceptionally'dark green, glossy,
oblong
to nearly oval, margins finely serrate; flowers small, yellowish, inconspicuous;
borne in
sparse clusters with long stalks; fruits fairly big, nearly round, smooth, glabrous, glossy, dark
red when ripe, edible.

236
480.1 Ochnainermis Lowveld plane
Multi-stemmed shrub, probably evergreen; leaves elliptic, oblong or suborbicular, small (4 x
2 cm), glossy green, margins finely toothed, venation very conspicuous, hairless; flowers
golden-yellow, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, solitary or in pairs on short, lateral twigs in the leaf
axils, petals with a short claw, fall early, sepals persistent; fruits consist of one to three car-
pels joined at their bases, each about 1 x 0,7 cm, enclosed by the red, persistent sepals, shiny
black when ripe; very rare in Kruger and confined to the sandstone area north of the Lu-
vuvhu River.

481 Ochnanatalitia Natal plane

Mostly small, multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub; often in rocky, granitic and sandy soil; in
Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria areas; flowers fairly large, golden-yellow, borne in clusters,
flowers over a long period of time during summer; leaves simple, oblong, very hard, dark
green (shiny and brown when young), glossy, margins finely toothed; light red, oval, growths
caused by insect activities usually present; fruits two- to three-lobed, joined at their bases,
each lobe up to 1 cm long, black when ripe, enclosed by enlarged, persistent, pale red sepals.

GROUPG
330 Crotonsylvaticus Forest fever berry
Largish shrub, only in the south of the park; leaves medium-large (up to 13 x 10 cm), light
green, thin, slightly rough, sparsely hairy (mostly when young), knobbly, margins irregularly
serrate (not tomentose underneath); flowers pale yellow, borne in long, sparse spikes,
mostly male florets; fruits small (up to 1 cm diameter), three-lobed, bright yellow when ripe.

335.1 Acalyphaglabrata Forest false nettle

(In Kruger Park two varieties: var. glabrata and var. pilisior)
in ravines; multi-
Probably confined to the south of the park; in thickets on riverbanks and
leaves ovate, up to 8 x 4cm, red and hairy when young, pale green and prac-
stemmed shrub;
turn red in autumn; flowers borne in
tically hairless when mature, thin, margins toothed,
cm long; male florets very small, yellowish; female florets
sparse, axillary spikes up to 4
yellow, silky hairy with branched styles; both sexes on the same spikes; fruits silky
greenish-
hairy, round, small, three-lobed, yellowish when ripe.

456.5 Rhoicissus tomentosa Common forest grape

in ravines or on koppies;
Robust climbing plant growing to the tops of large trees; usually
and strong; young growth covered by soft, rust-bro wn hairs; leaves simple,
tendrils thick
20 x 16 cm but normally half the size; veins
large, roughly triangular, widest at the top; up to
originat e in the base; upper surface dark green and hairless,
conspicuous, three of which
surface covered by rust-bro wn hairs, margins normally shallowly toothed, sometimes
lower
three-lobed; flowers small, creamy-green, borne in clusters, brown and
entire, sometimes
, fleshy, turn red and then
hairy in the bud; fruits nearly round, about 2 cm in diameter
purplish-black; edible.

237
459 Grewiacaffra Climbing raisin
Scrambling, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with quadrangular branches; leaves oblong/-
ovate, fairly small (up to 6 x 2,5 cm, mostly smaller), upper surface shiny and hairless, lower
side slightly to densely hairy, margins finely toothed; flowers yellow to pink, about 2 cm in
diameter, borne in small clusters on short stalks; fruits nearly globose, up to 1 cm in diame-
ter, yellow-brown to reddish when ripe; edible; fairly generally distributed.

459.1 Grewiaflava Velvet raisin

Confined to the mopane communities in the north of the park; shrub; leaves elliptic to oblan-
ceolate, small to fairly large (up to 7 x 2,5 cm), bases symmetrical, grey-green, finely hairy
above, pale green and densely hairy underneath, margins finely to coarsely toothed; flowers
yellow, up to 1,5 cm in diameter; sepals also yellowish; fruits subglobose, usually two-lobed,
about | cm in diameter, brown-red when ripe, edible.

459.2 Grewiaflavescens Rough-leaved raisin

Possibly two varieties in the park, var. flavescens and var. olukondae; widely spread; climb-
ing or scrambling shrub always growing underneath trees; stems and branches quadrangular;
leaves oblong to obovate, bases symmetrical, round to slightly lobed, up to 7 x 3 cm, pale
green, rough, hairy on both sides but more so underneath; margins irregularly and conspicu-
ously toothed, petioles hairy; flowers yellow, 2 cm in diameter, usually in groups of three;
sepals also yellow on the inside; fruits two-lobed, seldom one to four-lobed, each up to 1,4
cm in diameter, hairy, shiny and yellow-brown when ripe; edible. (In the case of var. flaves-
cens, the leaves are narrower and the bases are round, with flower stalks shorter than 1 cm;
in the case of var. olukondae, the leaves are very broad (nearly round), the leaf bases are
often lobed and the flower stalks are longer than 1 cm.

460.1 Grewiainaequilatera False silver raisin

Shrub which has only been found in the extreme northern area (Pafuri) of the park, young
twigs softly hairy; leaves oblong to obovate, small (5 x 2,5 cm) to large (18 x 7,5 cm) but
mostly about 10 cm long, leaf bases obviously asymmetrical, both surfaces green, finely hairy
on the veins on the lower side, margins toothed but entire at the base; flowers yellow, fairly
large (3 cm), axillary, stalks hairy; fruits two-lobed, deeply incised, each lobe about 1,3 cm in
diameter, yellow when ripe; edible.

463 Grewia occidentalis Cross berry

Up to now found only in the southern area of the park (Pretoriuskop/Malelane); associated
with thickets in ravines and on termitaria; sparse shrub with trailing branches and a tendency
to scramble; leaves ovate to lanceolate, fairly large (7,5 x 4 cm), pale green, very thin, leaf
bases symmetrical, slightly coarse (rough), finely hairy or glabrous, margins finely serrate to
scalloped; flowers mauve to pink, about 3,5 cm in diameter; fruits four-lobed, square in
shape, about 2,5 cm in diameter, brownish-red when ripe; edible.

463.1 Grewiaretinervis False rough-leafed raisin

Spreading shrub in open bushveld; mainly on sandy soils; in the park only in the Nwambiya
sandveld; old branches longitudinally grooved; leaves elliptic/oblong, up to 5 x 3 cm, stiff,
rough as a result of stiff hairs, leaf bases about symmetrical, margins toothed; flowers bright
yellow, small, in axillary groups; fruits round, about 9 mm in diameter, brownish-red when
ripe; edible.

238
463.2 Grewiavillosa Mallow raisin
Distributed throughout the park; more prominent on the basaltic soils on the eastern side
(Lebombo flats); small, multi-stemmed shrub, twigs conspicuously hairy (yellow-brown);
leaves simple, suborbicular to orbicular, largest of the local species (up to 12 cm in diame-
ter), pale green, hairy on both sides, knobbly, feels rough, margins toothed, petiole hairy;
flowers yellow, petals as well as sepals yellow on the inside, with long, silky hairs on the out-
side of the sepals; fruits shallowly four-lobed, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, sparsely hairy, red-
dish when ripe; edible.

577 Maesa lanceolata var. rufescens False assegai

Multi-stemmed shrub often occurring in groups and usually in moist situations; on granitic
and sandy soils in the Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria regions; branchlets brittle and hairy;
leaves alternate, large (up to about 15 cm in diameter), simple, suborbicular to broadly oval,
thick, soft, upper side glossy and hairless, underside covered by a dense layer of woolly hairs
or only sparsely pubescent, margins coarsely toothed; flowers very small, white, fragrant,
borne in axillary or terminal clusters, stalks hairy; fruits spherical, fleshy layer thin; up to
6 mm in diameter, white when ripe, borne in large, pendent clusters.

656 Ehretiaamoena Sandpaper bush

Usually a single-stemmed, fairly large, twiggy shrub; occurs throughout the park but no-
where abundant; leaves simple, alternately arranged on the branchlets, broadly obovate to
suborbicular (up to 11 x 6 cm); dark green above, both surfaces rough, margins with one or
two teeth on either side of the apex; flowers white to mauve, fragrant, tubiform-campanu-
late, up to 1 cm long, borne in terminal clusters; fruits spherical, nearly 1 cm in diameter,
fleshy, orange to red when ripe.

668 Holmskioldiatettensis Wild parasol flower

Rare, sparse, single or multi-stemmed shrub along the Olifants River, on the Lebombo, as
well as near Punda Maria rest camp; leaves in opposite pairs, oval to oblong/obovate, up to 7
x 3 cm, lower surfaces finely hairy, margins roughly toothed over the upper third; flowers
cup-shaped or funnel-shaped (mauve calyx), papery; petals small, blue; fruits very small, in-
conspicuous, four-lobed, hairy, inside the persistent calyx.

723.2 Vernoniastipulacea Blue bitter tea

(= V. ampla)
Scarce shrub; apparently confined to the northern part of the park; leaves simple, arranged
alternately on the twigs, oblong/elliptic, up to 15 x 10 cm, sometimes much bigger, roughly
times,
hairy when young but later more or less hairless, lower surface densely hairy at all
flowers arranged in large, compound, axillary and terminal pan-
margins irregularly serrate;
to 3 mm
icles; individual florets up to 1,5 cm long, pale blue; fruits inconspicuous nutlets, up
long, with a pappus (bundle of hairs) at one end.

724 Brachy lae

discolor subsp.nadiscolor Coast silver oak
(= B. transvaalensis)
leaves simple,
Rare, evergreen shrub in the south of the park (collected near Skukuza);
smaller, upper surface smooth and
alternate, fairly long (16 cm) and narrow (4 cm), mostly
and densely hairy, margins finely toothed; flowers creamy-
hairless, lower surface white
borne in large, terminal panicles; fruits very small, inconspicuous nutlets crowned
white,
with a bristly pappus on one end.

239
734 Tarchonanthus trilobus var. galpinii Broad-leaved camphor tree
(= T. galpinii, = T. camphoratus var. litakunensis)
Only occurs on the koppies and ridges in the south of the park, Malelane/Pretoriuskop;
shrub with grey, longitudinally grooved bark; leaves simple, arranged alternately, obovate to
oblong/elliptic, from 7 to 20 cm long and 2 to 9 cm broad, more or less dark green and un-
even (finely knobbly) above, densely hairy and creamy to grey underneath, aromatic, mar-
gins with three to eight large teeth at the apex or serrate, young leaves and petioles covered
by a dense layer of hairs; inflorescences yellowish to creamy heads, male heads borne in
smallish, axillary panicles, female heads solitary; fruits woolly, inconspicuous nutlets.

GROUP H
208.2 Bauhinia galpinii Pride-of-De Kaap
Fairly large, dense, multi-stemmed shrub with a roundish crown when growing without sup-
port; often a single-stemmed, robust scrambler growing up into surrounding trees; mostly
confined to and fairly common in the Pretoriuskop as well as the Punda Maria area; often in
thickets; leaves two-lobed, up to 7 x 7 cm, marginally entire; veins conspicuous; flowers
pink, fairly big, petals spatulate; borne in clusters; flowers for a rather long period of time
during summer; pods hard, slightly rough, up to 10 cm long, fairly narrow, dehisce while still
on the plants.

GROUP |
133 Maeruacaffra Bush cherry
Although wide-spread in South Africa — Eastern Cape to Northern Transvaal — it is rare in
the park (Nwambiya sandveld); leaves palmately compound with three leaflets (seldom
five); leaflets elliptic (up to 7,5 x 3,5 cm), leathery, marginally entire with a sharp mucro at
the apex; flowers in terminal clusters, calyx greenish, long stamens (up to 2 cm) predominant
component; fruits subglobose with longitudinal lines, hairless, up to 4,5 cm in diameter.

135 Maeruarosmarinoides Needle-leaved bush cherry

Multi-stemmed, rare shrub apparently confined to the Pretoriuskop area; leaves palmately
compound with three (sometimes five) leaflets; leaflets small and exceptionally narrow (1,5 x
0,1 cm), sharp-pointed, marginally entire; flowers borne in clusters at the twig terminals; pe-
tals very small, white, stamens relatively few; fruits cylindrical, up to 2 cm, segmented.

136.2 Thilachium africanum Cucumber bush

Multi-stemmed shrub in the mopane communities; can be seen along the Shingwedzi River
and near Punda Maria; mostly small but very nearly reaches tree size; leaves palmately com-
pound with three leaflets (seldom simple); leaflets elliptic, up to 9 x 4,5 cm, exceptionally
dark green, hard, hairless, marginally entire, spiny tipped; petiole slightly rough, sometimes
partly purplish-brown; flowers in terminal or axillary clusters, large and attractive due to the
exceptionally long, snow-white stamens, petals absent; fruits cylindrical/oblong, up to 6 cm
long, ribbed lengthwise.

240
262 Toddaliopsis bremekampii Wild mandarin
Multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub on the sandstone ridges (Karoo-sediments) between Punda
Maria and Pafuri; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets; leaflets oval, mostly small
(3 x 1,2 cm), glossy green, hairless, marginally entire, dotted with numerous, small glands;
flowers small, creamy-white, borne in small, axillary or terminal clusters, male and female
flowers separate but on the same plants; fruits small (1,5 cm in diameter), wrinkled and
warty, orange to reddish-brown when mature.

386 Rhuslancea Karree

Small tree with compound leaves (three leaflets); leaflets long and narrow, marginally en-
tire, glabrous, dark green, not indigenous to Kruger Park but planted in Pretoriuskop rest
camp.

396.1. Rhustransvaalensis Blue currant

Fairly abundant in the southern area of the park on riverbanks; multi-stemmed shrub; young
branchlets conspicuously hairy; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets; leaflets ob-
long to oval, terminal leaflet largest (up to 4 x 1,3 cm); all leaflets leathery, blue-green,
densely hairy when young only; margins entire, slightly thickened and sometimes wavy;
flowers very small, yellowish-green, borne in sparse spikes in leaf-axils and terminally; fruits
small (5 mm), borne in dense, short clusters, change colour from white to yellow to orange
or reddish-brown when ripe.

456.2 Rhoicissus digitata Baboon grape

Usually a climbing plant; apparently confined to the broken veld in the Malelane area;
young branchlets covered by red-brown hairs; leaves palmately compound with three to five
leaflets; leaflets elliptic, up to 9 x 3 cm, dark green, glossy and hairless on upper surfaces;
lower surfaces covered by rust-brown hairs, marginally entire; flowers yellow-green, small,
borne in sparse, axillary clusters; fruits oval, about 1,5 x 1,2 cm, purplish-black when ripe,
fleshy, edible.

456.3 Rhoicissus revoilii Bitter forest grape

Sparse shrub or scrambling plant in rocky areas throughout the park; fairly rare; young twigs
covered by rusty-red, woolly hairs; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets; shape
and size of leaflets vary tremendously, usually narrowly lanceolate to oval, glossy, dark
green, hairless or softly hairy on upper side and densely hairy (reddish-brown) underneath;
fruits two-lobed, up to 1,5 cm in diameter, fleshy, often warty, black when ripe; edible.

665 Vitex wilmsii Hairy finger-leaf

Probably two varieties, i.e. wilmsii and reflexa, in the park; fairly rare, mainly south of the
Sabie River and at Nwambiya; multi-stemmed shrub; branchlets conspicuously hairy; leaves
up
in opposite pairs, palmately compound with three to five leaflets; leaflets ovate to elliptic,
on the veins and at the margins, mar-
to 10 x 5cm, soft, hairy on both surfaces, conspicuous
hairy;
ginally entire; flowers white to mauve, borne in sparse, axillary clusters, stalks finely
wilmsti con-
fruits pear-shaped, small (6 x 4 mm), black when ripe, calyx persistent. (Variety
fined to Nwambiya sandveld and var. reflexa south of the Sabie River.)

241
GROUP J
270 Commiphora africana Hairy corkwood
Smallish shrub occurring throughout the park. Bark grey to green; branchlets spinescent,
leaves compound with three leaflets (one pair plus a terminal one); leaflets obovate to spatu-
late, terminal leaflet biggest (8 x 5 cm), all leaflets finely hairy, margins coarsely toothed,
apices tapering sharply; flowers small, green to red, tubiform-campanulate, borne in axillary
clusters; fruits subglobose, up to 1,2 cm in diameter, reddish when ripe; pseudo-aril at the
base of the seeds fleshy, red, four-lobed.

387 Rhus leptodictya Mountain karree

(= R. amerina)
Occurs in the southern area as well as Punda Maria region; small tree with single, rough,
dark brown or black stem; leaves glossy, dark green, palmately compound with three leaf-
lets; leaflets conspicuously serrate, sharp pointed, oblong to lanceolate, glabrous; flowers
very small, pale yellow, borne in long, thin clusters, terminally or axillary; fruits flattened,
small (5 mm diameter), yellowish-brown when ripe.

393.1 Rhusrehmanniana Blunt-leaved currant

Thus far only collected in the southern part of the park (mainly Pretoriuskop area); mostly in
thickets such as on riverbanks; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets; leaflets obo-
vate, up to 6,5 x 4,5 cm, softly hairy when young only, margins irregularly scalloped at the
apex only; flowers small, yellow-green, borne in axillary clusters of up to 6 cm long; fruits
small (3 mm) reddish-brown when ripe.

423 Allophylus decipiens False currant

Large shrub (3 m) with long, lax branches; in thickets in rocky situations, often in ravines
throughout the park; leaves compound with three leaflets, leaf margins conspicuously
toothed in the upper half or two-thirds; strongly reminds one of the karree or currant spe-
cies; ovate, up to 7 x 2,5 cm, dark green, glabrous except for bundles of hairs in the axils of
the veins on the lower surface; flowers small, whitish, borne in woolly inflorescences of up to
6 cm long; fruits nearly round (6 mm in diameter), red when ripe.

425 Allophylus melanocarpus Black false currant

Possibly similar to A. africanus (423.1); shrub in dense riverine vegetation along the Lu-
vuvhu River and the Limpopo River as well as in the Pretoriuskop area; only found rather
recently; rare; leaves compound with three leaflets; leaflets obovate/elliptic, up to 8 x 4cm,
glossy green above, thin, sometimes finely hairy, margins toothed or scalloped: flowers
small, creamy-coloured, borne in sparse, long (up to 12 cm), spike-like racemes in the leaf
axils; fruits oval, small (6 mm diameter), reddish when mature.

456.6 Rhoicissus tridentata Bushman’s grape

Widely distributed in the park; small shrub but mostly a slender climbing plant in a wide var-
iety of habitats; bark very soft; twigs covered by greyish to yellowish hairs, sometimes rusty-
brown and woolly; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets; leaflets narrowly to
broadly obovate, up to 9 x 5 cm, hard, dark green above and hairy (yellow to brown) under-
neath, margins conspicuously toothed in the upper half only; flowers small, greenish-yellow,
especially in the bud stage covered by hairs; fruits roughly round, up to 1,7 cm in diameter,
fleshy, changes colour to red and then black (when ripe); edible.

242
660 Vitexharveyana Whorled finger-leaf
Confined to South Africa, Swaziland and southern part of Mozambique; in the park found
only in rocky situations south of the Sabie River; leaves in opposite pairs, palmately com-
pound with three leaflets (sometimes five); leaflets obovate (up to 3 x 2 cm), fairly thick,
glabrous except for hair bundles in the axils of the veins on the under sides, margins toothed
in the upper half or one-third; flowers pale blue to bluish-purple, fragrant, up to 1 cm long,
trumpet-shaped, borne in open, axillary clusters; fruits roughly round, about 8 mm in diame-
ter, sepals persistent at the base, black when ripe.

GROUP K
384 Rhus gueinzii Thorny Karee
(= R. spinescens, = R. gueinzii var. spinescens, = R. simii, = R. crispa)
Distributed throughout the park in various habitats; shrub with palmately compound leaves
(3 leaflets); leaflets narrowly oblong to lanceolate, terminal one the largest (up to 7 x 1,3
cm), blue-green to grey-green, glabrous, thin, margins entire or irregularly toothed; flowers
very small, yellowish, borne in 6 cm long clusters, stalks hairy; fruits very small (4 mm in
diameter), flattened, glossy and brown when ripe; lateral twigs hard, not spiny, bearing
leaves.

391 Rhuspentheri Common crow-berry

South of the Olifants River; multi-stemmed, much-branched shrub; leaves palmately com-
pound with three leaflets, terminal group largest (up to 3,3 x 1,4 cm); all leaflets obovate,
dark green, thin, hairless when mature, marginally entire or sometimes with three teeth at
the top; flowers small, yellowish-green, in compact clusters; fruits very small (4 mm in dia-
meter), flattened, glossy, brown to dark brown.

392 Rhuspyroides Commonwild currant

Multi-stemmed shrub, up to + 5 m high; south of the Olifants River; abundant in Pretorius-
kop region; lower branches near the ground; leaves palmately compound with three leaflets;
leaflets spatulate to obovate, mostly softly hairy on both surfaces, marginally entire but
mostly with one to three large teeth at the top; terminal leaflet largest (up to Sixe2 src)
flowers very small, yellowish-green, in long (up to 20 cm) clusters; male and female flowers
possibly borne on separate trees; fruits small (4 mm in diameter), reddish when ripe; lateral
twigs mostly tomentose.

659 Vitex amboniensis Plum finger-leaf

(V. swynnertonii)
ne)
Deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub in the southern area of the park (Pretoriuskop/Malela
and the Punda/Pafuri region; leaves in opposite pairs, palmately compound with five leaflets,
thick,
seldom three or seven: leaflets are oblong/lanceolate to elliptic, about 6 x 2 cm, fairly
hairy when young but later only on the lower surface, margins entire or toothed (seldom);
terminal
flowers blue to mauve (seldom white) with a yellow throat, borne in axillary and
sepals hairy; fruits ovoid, up to 4 cm long, partly enclosed by the persistent calyx,
clusters;
brown to purple when ripe.

243
GROUP L
203 Schotiacapitata Dwarf boer-bean
Mostly a fairly large shrub with several stems in thickets; often utilized by browsing game
species to such an extent that it becomes a low-growing, extremely dense shrub; usually
found in thickets on soils of granitic origin, mostly brackish areas; only really conspicuous
when flowering (August/September); bark grey and fairly smooth; leaves paripinnately com-
pound with a maximum of five pairs of leaflets; leaflets suborbicular (up to 2,5 x 1,8 cm),
marginally entire; inflorescences resemble those of S. brachypetala but is paler in colour
(pink); pods flat, up to 12 cm long, oblong; rims of the pods persist on the trees; thus far
collected in the western part of the park south of the Olifants River.

213 Cassiapetersiana Monkey pod

Very seldom a single-stemmed, small tree; mostly a multi-stemmed shrub (up to 2 m high)
regularly burned back to ground level by veld fires; leaves paripinnately compound with a
maximum of 10 pairs of leaflets; leaflets narrowly ovate to lanceolate, up to 6 x 3 cm, dark
green, glossy, marginally entire, petioles finely hairy; glands on the rachis; flowers borne in
large, terminal clusters, very attractive, bright yellow; flowers for two to three months (late
summer/autumn); pods long and narrow (25 x 1 cm), constricted between the seeds; widely
spread throughout the park, especially Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria; often next to the
roads.

229.1 Sesbaniasesban subsp. sesban var. nubica River bean

Single-stemmed shrub growing in low-lying areas, mostly in damp situations and often in
dense stands; life span very short, i.e. about one or two years; especially abundant during
high rainfall years in wet places on basalt in the north of the park; leaves paripinnately com-
pound with up to 25 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oblong (15 x 3 mm), marginally entire; flowers
yellow with wine-red striations, borne in terminal clusters; pods very long and very thin (30 x
0,3 cm), cylindrical. This plant should definitely nor be included in a tree list.

265 Clausenaanisata Horsewood

Very rare in Kruger Park and plants have been found only in the Pretoriuskop area; small
shrub, mostly near water; leaves alternate, paripinnately compound with up to 17 leaflets,
not in opposite pairs; leaflets ovate to narrowly oval, up to 6 x 2,5 cm, dark green, purplish-
brown when young, margins toothed, gland-dotted and with a strong aromatic scent; flowers
small, white or yellow, borne in fairly sparse, axillary clusters; fruits globose, small (7 mm in
diameter), fleshy, red to black when ripe.

430 Deinbollia oblongifolia Dune soap-berry

Slender shrub (up to 2 m high); only occurs on the eastern side of the park (Lebombo) and at
Pafuri; leaves long, paripinnately compound with up to seven pairs of leaflets; leaflets oval,
light green, hairless, marginally entire; flowers white, small, and with brown hairs on the
outside, borne in large, terminal clusters; fruits in clusters, hairy, pale yellow when ripe; clo-
sely resembles Stadmania oppositifolia.

430.1 Deinbollia xanthocarpa Transvaal soap-berry

Scrambling shrub associated with dense thickets occurring on some koppies and on river-
banks; leaves paripinnately compound with a maximum of nine leaflets; leaflets oblong to
elliptic, up to 8 x 3. cm, light green, glabrous, marginally entire; flowers white, up to 1 cmin
diameter, borne in very large, terminal clusters; fruits round to oval, about 1,5 cm in diame-
ter, yellow when ripe; has only been found on the sandstone ridges east of Punda Maria as
well as along the Luvuvhu River at Pafuri.

244
438 Hippobromus pauciflorus False horsewood
Slender, multi-stemmed shrub; associated with thickets along watercourses; also grows on
ridges and koppies in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area; leaves paripinnately compound with
up to six pairs of leaflets; leaflets dark green, asymmetrical, hairless, rather small (up to 5 x 2
cm but mostly smaller), glossy; margins conspicuously toothed; flowers small, creamy-white
to reddish, borne in dense, axillary clusters; fruits roughly pea-size, fleshy, glossy, dark red
and later black when ripe.

GROUP M
219 Calpurnia aurea subsp. aurea Natal laburnum
In the Kruger Park thus far only known from Ship mountain and the Punda Maria sandveld;
usually in damp places; small shrub with imparipinnately compound leaves (up to 15 pairs of
leaflets and a terminal one); leaflets obovate to oblong, up to 4 x 1,6 cm, light green, margi-
nally entire, with a very fine hair-like tip at the apex; flowers in fairly large terminal clusters,
yellow, attractive, flowers for a long time; pods thin, oblong (10 x 1,5 cm), biscuit-coloured
when ripe, indehiscent, persistent.

226 Munduleasericea Cork bush

Widely spread, mostly single-stemmed shrub; bark thick, soft, longitudinally ridged; grows
in a variety of soil types but seems to prefer sandy or gravelly soil; leaves imparipinnately
compound with a maximum of six pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets lanceolate, 6,5
x 2,5 cm, buff-green with conspicuous silvery hairs, marginally entire; flowers attractive
(usually mauve but sometimes white), borne in terminal clusters; pods small (9 x 1 cm), flat,
covered by a layer of silvery hairs, poorly dehiscent; mostly in areas with deep, sandy soils,
especially Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria.

230 Ormocarpumtrichocarpum Caterpillar bush

Widely spread in Kruger Park, mostly on low-lying brackish areas; sometimes in fairly dense
stands; single-stemmed, very sparse shrub; stems usually screened by lateral twigs; bark very
thick, corky, grey-brown; leaves in small groups, small, imparipinnately compound with a
maximum of 13 pairs of leaflets (usually less) and a terminal one; leaflets oblong (up to 1 x
0,5 cm), marginally entire; flowers in small clusters, dark purple, striated; pods small (4,5 cm
long) and covered by a dense layer of long, yellow-brown hairs.

234 Dalbergianitidula Glossy flat-bean

Very rare and confined to the Punda Maria sandveld as well as Nwambiya; multi-stemmed,
deciduous shrub without thorns; leaves imparipinnately compound with a maximum of seven
pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets elliptic, relatively large (usually up to 3 x 1,5 cm),
very thin, glossy, light green, marginally entire; flowers small, white, fragrant, borne in
dense clusters; pods thin, oblong (up to 7 x 1,5 cm), flat, brown, indehiscent; heartwood pur-
ple turning brown when exposed.

291.1 Commiphora zanzibarica Zanzibar camphor

Up to now only male trees were found, immediately south of Kumane dam (west of the
tarred road) and at Ngwenyene dam. It reaches small tree size, does not look like a cork-
wood and has a fairly dense crown, a pale grey and smooth stem and no spinescent twigs.
The leaves consist of three to four pairs of leaflets and a terminal one. The leaflets are rel-
atively large, oblanceolate and hairless and the margins entire. The small, greenish florets

245
are borne in exceptionally long (25 cm) inflorescences and appear during the summer
months. According to other sources the fruits are fairly large (about 1,5 x 1,0 cm) and
brownish-red when ripe.

568 Heteromorphaarborescens Parsley tree

Shrub associated with thickets and rocky habitats; rare in the park but have been collected in
the extreme south (Malelane) and the north (Punda Maria); bark red-brown, smooth, peels
off in thin flakes; leaves sometimes simple but usually palmately to imparipinnately com-
pound with three to nine leaflets (mostly three or seven); leaflets elliptic, glossy, pale green,
marginally entire, thin, up to 7 x 1 cm, aromatic; flowers small, whitish or yellowish, fra-
grant, close together in dense heads; fruits roughly cordate, flat, up to 0,7 cm long, longitudi-
nally ridged, brownish when ripe.

673.1 Tecomariacapensis Cape honeysuckle

Multi-stemmed shrub with long, lax shoots mostly growing in groups; tends to be a climber;
fairly common south of the Sabie River, also in the Punda Maria area; leaves in opposite
pairs, imparipinnately compound with two to five pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets
ovate to oblong/ovate, up to 4,5 x 3 cm, dark green, hairless but bundles of hairs in the axils
of the veins on the lower surface, margins scalloped to toothed; flowers orange, fairly large
(5 cm Jong), tubiform, borne in terminal clusters, flowers over a very long period of time;
fruits long (up to 13 cm), narrow (1 cm), pod-shaped; seeds winged.

GROUP N
192.1 Elephantorrhiza goetzei subsp. goetzei False sumach bean
Mostly in rocky areas; apparently very rare and therefore only known from a few localities
such as the Tsende River and the Orpen/Satara region in the park; bark grey-brown to red-
brown; leaves bipinnately compound with numerous pairs of pinnae (up to 40) each with
nearly 50 pairs of leaflets; leaflets up to 1,2 cm long; flowers borne in axillary spikes and are
small, cream-coloured to yellow, stamens most important components; pods long (45 cm),
narrow (3 cm), more or less cylindrical, dehisce while still on the plants, only the sides re-
maining intact.

193 Elephantorrhiza burkei Sumach bean

Shrub, in groups, often in rocky situations; bark red-brown and shiny; leaves bipinnately
compound with up to eight pinna pairs and numerous leaflets; leaflets up to 1,5 x 0,5 cm;
flowers whitish to creamy-coloured, borne in sparse spikes of up to 10 cm long, stamens
prominent, fragrant; pods pendent, oblong (20 x 4 cm or even longer), hard, reddish-brown,
thickened at the seeds, indehiscent; reproduce by means of rhizomes and the plants there-
fore tend to occur in groups; widely spread throughout Kruger Park but nowhere in abun-
dance.

GROUP O
43 Chaetacmearistata Thorny elm
Robust, scrambling plant in dense thickets in ravines and on riverbanks; mainly in the Pre-
toriuskop area; thorns solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils, sometimes bearing leaves; leaf
margins entire or conspicuously toothed; leaves characterized by long, thin, soft, persistent,
hair-like bristles at the apices; leaves oval to ovate, dark green, thick, leathery; flowers

246
small, greenish, two sexes apart but on the same plants — male florets in clusters and female
florets solitary; fruits globose, fairly small, yellow when ripe.

102 Ximenia americana var. microphylla Blue sourplum

Usually a small, multi-stemmed, twiggy shrub, mostly in groups; twigs very thin, slender and
spinescent; leaves elliptic, about 3,5 x 2 cm, bluish-green when mature (reddish when
young), conduplicate upwards, marginally entire; flowers small, greenish-white with hairy
throats, borne in small clusters in the axils of the spines; fruits ovoid to subglobose, up to
2,5 cm long, orange when ripe, edible but sour.

285 Commiphora pyracanthoides Common corkwood

Distributed throughout the Kruger Park; more abundant in the rocky situations in the mo-
pane-veld in the northern areas; fairly large, dense, untidy, low-growing shrub with spiny
lateral branchlets; bark greyish-green, peels off in small, paper-thin flakes; leaves simple,
borne in groups on lateral twigs, narrowly obovate; bluish-green, hairless, margins toothed;
flowers small, reddish, in groups, on very short branchlets; fruits ovoid, about 1 cm long,
hairless, glossy; pseudo-aril attached to the seeds red, fleshy and four-lobed.

399.2 Maytenus mossambicensis var. mossambicensis Black forest spike-thorn

Mainly in the sandveld areas of Punda Maria and Nwambiya; multi-stemmed shrub in thick-
ets; leaves simple, oval to ovate, up to 6x 4.cm, glossy, pale green, glabrous, margins irregu-
larly toothed, arranged alternately on the branchlets or in small groups; flowers small, white,
in small clusters; fruits three-lobed, small (1,4 cm diameter), white when young, later red-
dish-brown to red; stalks very long and thin; solitary, thin, red-brown thorns of up to 8 cm
long occur on young branches.

402 Maytenus senegalensis Red spike-thorn

Scattered throughout the park, especially along spruits and rivers; mostly found in dense
groups; biggest specimens in the Pretoriuskop area, bark grey; solitary, long (4 cm), sharp
spines on the branches; branch terminals characteristically pendent; leaves arranged alterna-
tely or in small groups, simple, oblong to obovate, hairless, glossy, light green to dark green,
rather thick, leathery, margins finely serrate; flowers greenish-white, small, borne in dense,
axillary clusters — two sexes mostly on separate trees, fruits two-lobed, small (6 mm in diame-
ter), glabrous, shiny, greenish-red when ripe.

403.1 Putterlickia pyracantha False spike-thorn

shrub with an
Probably restricted to the southern part of the park; mostly multi-stemmed
of long, solitary thorns; lateral twigs also hard and spiny; leaves simple, solitary
abundance
cm (sometime s much larger), shiny, dark
or in small groups, narrowly ovate, up to 3 x 1,5
to finely serrate; flowers white, up to 1 cm in diameter, petals conspic-
green, margins entire
up to 2 cm long,
uous, borne in clusters on the spiny lateral twigs; fruits three-lobed, hard,
stalks long and thin, green with a red tinge when ripe.

492 Oncobaspinosa Snuff-box tree

along the Sabie
Usually a multi-stemmed shrub but reaches tree size; rare; has been found
as well as in spruits in the sandveld area north-wes t of Punda Maria; leaves simple,
River
conspicuously
medium-large, thin, ovate/elliptic, up to 12 cm long, hairless, margins
6 cm diameter) , snow-whit e, rose-like; fruit subglobos e, hard,
toothed: flowers big (about
short (+ 2 cm), thin, sharp,
smooth, dark brown, with persistent style at the top; armed with
solitary thorns.

247
498 Scolopiazeyheri Thorn pear
Slender, single-stemmed, largish, deciduous shrub (up to + 4 m high); leaves simple, small,
margins with big teeth; flowers very small, inconspicuous and yellowish; fruits small, roughly
oval, light red when ripe; long, solitary thorns often present; have only been found on some
of the koppies in the south-western area of the park.

506 Flacourtiaindica Governor's plum

Single-stemmed, slender shrub (up to 3 m high) with many, solitary, thin, sharp thorns;
leaves simple, medium-large, thin, hairless, margins finely toothed; flowers very small and
inconspicuous; fruits red-brown when ripe, edible; leaves beautiful in autumn when they
turn rusty-brown to reddish-brown; associated with thickets; have already been found in the
Pretoriuskop and the Punda Maria area.

507 Dovyalis caffra Kei-apple

Shrub or small tree (up to 3 m high) with many, solitary, pale grey thorns; often grows near
water, also on koppies; leaves simple, dark green, borne in small groups, obovate, small (4 x
2 cm), marginally entire, glossy, sparsely hairy when young and later glabrous; flowers in-
conspicuous, yellowish — male and female florets on separate trees, rich in nectar; fruits
about as big as those of the marula (+ 4 cm in diameter), bright yellow, glossy, glabrous;
edible; confined to the Pretoriuskop area as well as the Punda Maria region.

511 Dovyalis zeyheri Wild apricot

Thorny shrub with solitary, sharp, thin thorns up to 3 cm long, although sometimes absent;
leaves simple, broadly elliptic to about obovate, up to 6 x 3 cm, dark green, glossy, covered
with short hairs or glabrous, margins nearly entire to scalloped; flowers small, rich in nectar,
greenish-yellow, solitary or in axillary groups; two sexes on separate trees; fruits ovoid,
fleshy, up to 2 cm long, orange when ripe, conspicuously hairy; persistent calyx at the base;
edible; rare and probably confined to the Lebombo in the vicinity of the Olifants River.

622.1 Azimatetracantha Needle bush

Judged by the growth form of this species in the park, where it occurs rather widely, it can
never reach tree size since it barely reaches a height of 1,5 m. It is in dense stands and abun-
dant only on the flood plains of the Luvuvhu River. Leaves simple, in opposite pairs, margi-
nally entire, oval to suborbicular, up to 5 x 4 cm, light green, hairless but when young
sparsely hairy; flowers extremely small (5 mm long), greenish-yellow, two sexes on separate
plants in terminal clusters; fruits nearly round, slightly fleshy, up to 1 cm in diameter, white
to yellow when ripe; four spines, in two pairs, occur with each pair of leaves: spines are long,
thin, green and very sharp.

689 Catunaregam spinosa subsp. spinosa Thorny bone-apple

(= Xeromphis obovata, = Randia dumetorum, = R. kraussii, = R. obovatum)
Widely spread in the park but especially numerous on sandy soil and on the koppies
in the
Pretoriuskop area; multi-stemmed shrub, often in groups; leaves in opposite pairs
or small
groups, simple, oval to obovate, up to 3,5 x 2,3 cm, softly hairy on both surfaces, greyish-
green, marginally entire; flowers attractive, initially white turning yellow, about 2 cm in di-
ameter, fragrant (Gardenia-like), borne in axillary groups; fruits ovoid, up to 2,5 cm long,
very hard, persistent sepals at the top characteristic; thorns straight, sharp, borne in opposite
pairs.

248
690 Gardeniaamoena Thorny gardenia
Small, untidy, thorny shrub in thickets on the banks of watercourses in the southern region
of the park; leaves simple, in opposite pairs or small groups on short, lateral twigs, oval to
obovate, about 4 x 2 cm, reddish when young, glossy dark green when mature, hairless, mar-
ginally entire; flowers attractive (gardenia-like), fragrant, white inside and pink on the out-
side, up to 4 cm long and 5 cm in diameter, petals twisted; fruits ovoid, up to 2,5 cm long,
crowned by the persistent calyx forming a short tube; thorns in opposite pairs.

708 Canthiuminerme Common turkey berry (= C. ventosum)

Thorny shrub in thickets in the Pretoriuskop area; leaves simple, elliptic (+ 5 x 2 cm), thin,
soft, pale green, hairless, marginally entire, arranged in opposite pairs; flowers pale yellow,
about 1 cm in diameter, hairy in the throat, borne in axillary clusters; fruits ovoid to pear-
shaped, small (7 mm), dark brown when ripe, slightly wrinkled.

714.3 Dinocanthium hystrix Porcupine bush

Shrub associated with the riverine vegetation but also growing on koppies in the southern
area of the park and at Punda Maria; lateral branchlets hard, in opposite pairs, short, spines-
cent; leaves borne in opposite pairs below as well as on the lateral twigs; leaves simple, obo-
vate, hairless, marginally entire, small (2,5 x 1,1 cm); flowers extremely small, greenish-
white, solitary or in small groups on the lateral twigs; fruits spherical, fleshy, very small
(4mm), reddish to brown when ripe.

715 Plectroniellaarmata False turkey berry

Large, thorny shrub in the southern part of the park, also near Punda Maria; on koppies and
along watercourses; thorns in opposite pairs, up to 4 cm long, hard, sharp; leaves in opposite
pairs or on short lateral twigs below the thorns, simple, obovate, about 4 x 2,5 cm, glossy,
dark green, seldom sparsely hairy underneath, marginally entire; flowers white, small, borne
in axillary clusters, fragrant; fruits asymmetrical, ovoid, fleshy, 1 cm in diameter, change
from yellow to orange and sometimes red when ripening, borne in small clusters.

GROUP P
160.1 Acaciaborleae Sticky thorn
Multi-stemmed shrub with numerous stems; tends to grow in groups; only on basaltic soils
from Satara northwards; stems black; bark does not peel off; thorns white, straight, thin, up
to 5 cm long, in pairs; leaves bipinnately compound with a maximum of 10 pairs of pinnae
and 15 pairs of leaflets per pinna; leaflets small (6,5 x 2 mm) with numerous glands on the
margins; florets densely packed in globose, golden-yellow heads; pods long (7 x 1 cm), nar-
row, conspicuously segmented, sticky, finely hairy.

164.1 Acacia exuvialis Flaky thorn

Multi-stemmed shrub (few stems) or single-stemmed tree (up to 4 m high) on the granitic
soils in Kruger Park; abundant in the Skukuza/Pretoriuskop/Malelane region; stems brown-
ish-grey; bark peels off in large, thin, yellow-brown flakes, crown sparse; thorns very con-
spicuous, white, in pairs, sometimes particularly large with thick bases, up to 10 cm long;
leaves bipinnately compound with one to six pairs of pinnae and up to six pairs of leaflets per
pinna; leaflets relatively large (10 x 4,5 mm); florets packed in dense, globose, golden-yellow
heads; flowers poorly and sporadically; pods short, flat, segmented, sticky with numerous
glands.

249
179.1 Acacia permixta Slender thorn
Rarest acacia in the park and confined to the area west of Shingwedzi rest camp near the
western boundary in mopane veld; small shrub, usually with few stems; stems reddish-brown
and young branches hairy; thorns small, thin, whitish, in pairs; leaves borne in small groups
between the thorns, bipinnately compound with one to four pairs of pinnae and up to ten
leaflets per pinna; leaflets small (6 x 2 mm); glands present on the rachis; florets packed in
dense, globose, yellow heads; pods small, sickle-shaped, up to 4 x 1 cm, reddish-brown,
slightly segmented, with numerous glands.

187.2 Acaciaswazica Swazi thorn

Multi-stemmed, small (1,5 m) shrub in the Pretoriuskop/Malelane area; stems black to
brownish-black; bark fairly smooth with crosswise grooves, seldom peeling off; thorns in
pairs, thin, straight, white with brown tips, up to 2,5 cm long; leaves small, in groups be-
tween the thorns, bipinnately compound with usually one pinna pair (seldom up to three)
and up to five pairs of leaflets; leaflets up to about 10 x 6 mm; florets packed in yellow, glo-
bose heads; pods small, sickle-shaped, up to 4 x 1 cm, pale brown with conspicuous, sticky
glands; sometimes confused with Acacia exuvialis.

231 Dalbergiaarmata Thorny rope

Robust climber in thickets in the Pretoriuskop and Punda Maria regions; rather scarce; par-
ticularly long, thick, solitary thorns scattered on the stems and branches; leaves imparipinna-
tely compound with a maximum of 16 pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets oblong,
marginally entire, very small, finely hairy when young; flowers fragrant, small, white, borne
in large, axillary or terminal clusters; pods oblong (5 x 2 cm), thin, pergamentaceous, inde-
hiscent; wood off-white and without heartwood.

676 Rhigozumzambesiacum Mopane pomegranate

Multi-stemmed shrub or small, single-stemmed tree; very twiggy but sparse; widely spread in
the park, especially on the brackish flats near watercourses and the basalt soils (eastern side
of the park); leaves imparipinnately compound with one to five pairs of leaflets and a ter-
minal one, borne in groups below the thorns; leaflets exceptionally small (5 x 3 mm), margi-
nally entire; thorns straight, up to 1,5 cm long; flowers attractive and conspicuous within
days after the first spring rain, bright yellow, about 3,5 cm in diameter, petals crinkled, fruits
pod-like, oblong, flat, tapering at both ends, up to 7 x 1,5 cm, pale brown when mature.

GROUP Q
28.1 Aloe arborescens Krantz aloe
Not particularly widely spread or abundant in the park; confined to rocky areas such as Shitl-
have hill near Pretoriuskop and the Lebombo along the Olifants River where it is rather
common; much-branched tree aloe, mostly up to a maximum of about 2 m; stems bare;
leaves fairly soft, narrow, green to greyish-green; thorns confined to the leaf margins and
fairly soft; inflorescences usually from two to four; unbranched, pyramid-shaped spikes per
branch, axillary; spikes fairly short and compact (up to 30 x 10 cm); florets uniformly pink.

28.4 Aloeangelica Wylliespoort aloe

Confined to some of the ridges along the Luvuvhu River in the north; single-stemmed, sel-
dom-branched aloe; leaves dark green, pendent, margins curved over on the upper side;
thorns hard, reddish-brown, confined to the leaf margins; usually a single, unbranched inflo-

250
rescence (spike) per plant; florets densely packed in the short, almost spherical spike; spikes
about 10 cm long; open flowers at the base yellow and the buds red to red-brown.

28.8 Aloeexcelsa Zimbabwe aloe

Confined to the northernmost ridges next to the Luvuvhu River; single-stemmed aloe which
may reach a height of about 3 m; the upper part of the stem, sometimes more, always covy-
ered by the dead, pendent leaves; living leaves mostly spreading (lowest pendent), fairly
dark green, relatively narrow, margins curved over slightly; thorns reddish-brown and occur
on the leaf margins as well as scattered on the lower surface, especially near the apex; usually
one, much-branched inflorescence per plant; spikes fairly long and thin, upright, florets
densely packed and blood-red to orange.

29.4 Aloelittoralis Mopane aloe (= A. rubrolutea)

Confined to the mopane-veld area north-east of Punda Maria, as well as Pafuri; rare; single-
stemmed and unbranched and the stem screened by the dead, pendent leaves; living leaves
spreading to upright and even the lowest ones not pendent, buff or grey-green; thorns sharp
and hard and confined to the margins; florets pink and yellow tipped, densely packed in
spikes in a single, branched inflorescence per plant.

29.5 Aloemarlothi Mountain aloe

Rather widely spread in the Kruger on koppies and brackish flats but does not occur in the
northern part; can attain a height of about 6 m; single-stemmed and unbranched; stems cov-
ered for the most part by the dead, pendent leaves; leaves large, long and very wide, ta-
pering gradually towards the apex; greyish-green; thorns on the margins and scattered on
both sides of the leaves; one branched inflorescence per plant per season; florets densely
packed in horizontally spreading, fairly long spikes; florets predominantly pale orange.

30.4 Aloesessiliflora Lebombo aloe

Common on several koppies and other rocky situations in the area south of the Olifants
River; locally not more than 1,5 m high; single-stemmed, unbranched; stems mostly covered
by the old, dead leaves; leaves yellowish-green to reddish, long, relatively narrow, spread-
ing; thorns confined to the margins; florets closely packed in exceptionally long (up to 40 cm)
spikes — one to five per plant; inflorescences unbranched; open florets at the base yellow and
the rest green to olive-green.

130 Capparis sepiaria var. citrifolia Wild caper-bush

Mostly a small, thorny shrub; young branches covered with long hairs; thorns hooked, short,
sharp, in pairs; leaves simple, alternate, lanceolate to oblong, up to 7 x 3. cm, hairy on both
di-
sides; margins entire and hairy; flowers white, creamy or slightly mauve, up to 1,5 cm in
fruits subglobose, up to 1,5 cm in diame-
ameter, borne in terminal clusters on the branches;
ripen-
ter, soft, fleshy, changes colour from greyish-green to yellow to purplish-black when
ing; only occurs in the Punda Maria/Pafuri area along the rivers and on the ridges; rare.

130.1 Capparis tomentosa Woolly caper-bush

biggest trees;
In Kruger Park without exception a robust climber growing to the tops of the
always near rivers and often on termitaria (vide Pafuri); young branches conspicuou sly softly
to 8 x
hairy; sharp hook-thorns occur in pairs; leaves simple, alternate, oblong to elliptic, up
hairy, borne between the thorns; flowers
2,5 cm, pale green to grey-green, very soft, densely
stamens
fairly large (+ 3 cm in diameter), attractive, yellowish-green, fragrant, with white
when ripe.
conspicuous; fruits globose, about 4. cm in diameter, pendent, yellow

251
GROUP R
160 Acaciaataxacantha Flame thorn
Particularly robust scrambling plant in riverine bush; often grows to the tops of the biggest
trees; stems yellow-grey; numerous short, sharp, solitary hook-thorns scattered on the
branches and stems; leaves bipinnately compound with up to 25 pairs of pinnae and a large
number of leaflets per pinna; leaflets very small (5 x 1,5 mm); florets densely packed in
white, cylindrical spikes up to about 10 cm long; pods long and narrow (20 x 2,5 cm) with
straight edges, change colour from the initial red to brown when ripening.

184.1 Acacia schweinfurthii var. schweinfurthii River climbing thorn

Robust scrambling plant in and along rivers and other larger watercourses, mostly in dense
thickets; rare in Kruger Park; hook-thorns sharp, hard, solitary, scattered on stems and
branches; leaves bipinnately compound with a maximum of 18 pairs of pinnae and numerous
leaflets per pinna; leaflets very small, bright green, hairless; large gland on the petiole; flo-
rets in white, globose heads (see Acacia ataxacantha); pods oblong (up to 19 x 3 cm), fairly
hard with conspicuous thickenings at the seeds, edges straight, indehiscent.

243.1 Erythrinahumeana Dwarf coral tree

Distributed throughout the park but very scarce and therefore seldom seen; shrub or very
small tree; bark grey and fairly smooth with scattered, solitary, short thorns; leaves paripin-
nately compound with three leaflets (one pair and a terminal one); leaflets particularly broad
at the base and the apex drawn out into an exceptionally long, slender tip, dark green, hair-
less, glossy, marginally entire, with numerous very small hook-thorns on the midrib and
veins as well as the petiole and rachis; flowers bright red, borne in long, sparse, terminal,
upright racemes; pods deeply constricted between the seeds, up to 15 cm long, usually
twisted, black when ripe; seeds orange-coloured.

254 Zanthoxylumdavyi Knobwood

(= Fagara davyi)
The plants (trees) found in the Punda Maria area thus far differ in certain respects from Zan-
thoxylum davyi and further investigation is therefore needed. The bark of mature plants is
dark brown with conspicuous knobbly thorns; leaves imparipinnately compound with a max-
imum of six pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets vary in form, usually narrowly ellip-
tic to lanceolate, up to 7,5 x 2,5 cm, veins prominent, margins finely serrate, with translucent
glands at the margins; petioles bear hook-thorns; flowers greenish-yellow, small, borne in
small clusters; fruits round, small (5 mm in diameter), red-brown when ripe; seeds black;
leaves have the characteristic smell of citrus plants.

255.1 Zanthoxylum leprieurii Sand knobwood

(= Fagara leprieurii)
Thorny shrub; thorns on knobs and scattered on stems and branches: confined to the north-
ern part of the park near Punda Maria where it was found near permanent water. Leaves
imparipinnately compound with five to eight pairs of leaflets and a terminal one; leaflets
ovate to elliptic, 5 x 2,5 cm, light green to dark green, margins finely toothed to scalloped,
with pellucid glands in the blade; petiole and rachis with hook-thorns; flowers small, creamy-
white, borne in sparse, terminal clusters; fruits small (5 mm in diameter), orange to red when
ripe, borne in pendent clusters; seeds black.

252
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES
National
number Species Family
159 Acacia albida Del. Fabaceae
160 Acacia ataxacantha DC Fabaceae
160.1 Acacia borleae Burtt Davy Fabaceae
161 Acacia burkei Benth. Fabaceae
162 Acacia caffra (Thunb.) Willd. Fabaceae
163.1 Acacia davyiN.E.Br. Fabaceae
164 Acacia erubescens Welw. ex Oliv. Fabaceae
164.1 Acacia exuvialis Verdoorn Fabaceae
167 Acacia gerrardii Benth. var. gerrardii Fabaceae
168.1 Acacia grandicornuta Gerstn. Fabaceae
172 Acacia karroo Hayne Fabaceae
174.1 Acacia luederitzii Engl. var. retinens
(Sim) J.H. Ross & Brenan Fabaceae
178 Acacia nigrescens Oliv. Fabaceae
179 Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del. subsp.
kraussiana (Benth.) Brenan Fabaceae 70
7 9OEt Acacia permixta Burtt Davy Fabaceae 250
180 Acacia polyacantha Willd. subsp.
campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Brenan Fabaceae Hh
183.1 Acacia robusta Burch. subsp. clavigera Fabaceae 12,
184.1 Acacia schweinfurthii Brenan & Exell var.
schweinfurthii (E. Mey.) Brenan Fabaceae 252
185 Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. var. leiorhachis
Brenan Fabaceae 73
185.1 Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. var. rostrata
Brenan Fabaceae 74
187 Acacia sieberiana DC. var. woodii
(Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan Fabaceae 75
187.2 Acacia swazica Burtt Davy Fabaceae 250
188 Acacia tortilis (Forsk.) Hayne subsp.
heteracantha (Burch.) Brenan Fabaceae 76
163 Acacia welwitschii Oliv. subsp. delagoensis
(Harms) J.H. Ross & Brenan Fabaceae 62
189 Acacia xanthophloea Benth. Fabaceae 77
S55nL Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. glabrata Euphorbiaceae 237
335. Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. pilisior Euphorbiaceae 23i
639 Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd Apocynaceae D5
640 Acokanthera rotundata (Codd) Kupicha Apocynaceae 205
Acokanthera
schimperi (A.DC.) Schweinf. var.
rotundata Codd = A. rotundata
467 Adansonia digitata L. Bombaceae 159
647.3 Adenium multiflorum Klotzsch Apocynaceae 231
Adenium obesum var. multiflorum
= A. multiflorum
Adina microcephala var. galpinii
= Breonadia salicina
207 Afzelia quanzensis Welw. Fabaceae 86
Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.F. Wight Fabaceae 50
148
149 Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boiv. subsp.
sericophala (Benth.) Brenan Fabaceae 51
Albizia anthelmintica (A. Rich.) Brongn. Fabaceae
156
152 Albizia brevifolia Schinz Fabaceae 53
154 Albizia forbesii Benth. Fabaceae a)
ISS Albizia harveyi Fourn. Fabaceae 56

253
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES

National
number Species Family Page
153 Albizia petersiana (Bolle) Oliv. subsp.
evansii (Burtt Davy) Brenan Fabaceae 54
itsyy/ Albizia tanganyicensis Bakf. subsp. tanganyicencis Fabaceae 57
158 Albizia versicolor Welw. ex Oliv. Fabaceae 58
334 Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm. Euphorbiaceae 236
Alchornea schlechteri = A. laxiflora
Allophylus africanus = A. melanocarpus
423 Allophylus decipiens (Sond.) Radlk. Sapindaceae 242
425 Allophylus melanocarpus (Sond.) Radlk. Sapindaceae 242
28.4 Aloe angelica Pole Evans Liliaceae 250
28z Aloe arborescens Mill. Liliaceae 250
28 Aloe bainesti T. Dyer Liliaceae ID)
28.8 Aloe excelsa Berger Liliaceae Pail
29.4 Aloe littoralis Bak. Liliaceae 251
295 Aloe marlothii Berger Liliaceae Pail
Aloe rubrolutea = A. littoralis
30.4 Aloe sessiliflora Pole Evans Liliaceae Zak
B2i; Androstachys johnsonii Prain Euphorbiaceae 19
105 Annona senegalensis Pers. Annonaceae 42
632 Anthocleista grandiflora Gilg Loganiaceae 203
318 Antidesma venosum E. Mey. ex Tul. Euphorbiaceae 5)
422 Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. ex Arn. subsp. dimidiata Icacinaceae 148
OSzl Artabotrys brachypetalus Benth. Annonaceae 232
427 Atalaya alata (Sim) H. Forbes Sapindaceae 149
Austromimusops marginata = Vitellariopsis marginata
G22. Il Azima tetracantha Lam. Salvadoraceae 248
251 Balanites maughamii Sprague Balanitaceae 101
252 Balanites pedicellaris Mildbr. & Schltr. Balanitaceae 102
223 Baphia massaiensis Taub. subsp. obovata (Schinz)
Brummitt var. obovata Fabaceae 229
208.2 Bauhinia galpinii N.E. Br. Fabaceae 240
581 Bequaertiodendron magalismontanum (Sond.)
Heine & Hemsl. Sapotaceae 188
449 Berchemia discolor (Klotzsch) Hemsl. Rhamnaceae 154
450 Berchemia zeyheri (Sond.) Grubov Rhamnaceae 155
222 Bolusanthus speciosus (H. Bol.) Harms Fabaceae 91
122 Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Ben. Capparaceae 46
W2PE Al Boscia angustifolia A. Rich. var. corymbosa
(Gilg) De Wolf Capparaceae 47
27 Boscia foetida Schinz subsp. reamanniana
(Pest.) Toelken Capparaceae 229
126 Boscia mossambicensis Klotzsch Capparaceae 229
724 Brachylaena discolor DC. subsp. discolor Asteraceae 239)
(Oe Brachylaena huillensis O. Hoffm. Asteraceae DD
Brachylaena transvaalensis = B. discolor
subsp. discolor
684 Breonadia salicina (Vahl) Hepper & Wood Rubiaceae 217
322 Bridelia cathartica Bertol f. subsp. cathartica Euphorbiaceae 230
324 Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. Euphorbiaceae 127,
325 Bridelia mollis Hutch. Euphorbiaceae 128
197 Burkea africana Hook. Fabaceae 82
129 Cadaba aphylla (Thunb.) Wild Capparaceae 229
129.1 Cadaba natalensis Sond. Capparaceae 232
256 Calodendrum capense (L.f.) Thunb. Rutaceae 104

254
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES
National
number Species Family Page
29 Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. subsp. aurea Fabaceae 245
707 Canthium huillense Hiern Rubiaceae “pd
708 Canthium inerme (L.f.) Kuntze Rubiaceae 249
710 Canthium mundianum Cham. & Sclechtd. Rubiaceae 227
711 Canthium obovatum Klotzsch Rubiaceae 226
TDI Canthium setiflorum Hiern Rubiaceae 228
Canthium ventosum = C. inerme
Canthium wildii = C. huillense
130 Capparis sepiaria L. var. citrifolia
(Lam.) Toelken Capparaceae Dail
130.1 Capparis tomentosa Lam. Capparaceae 251
212 Cassia abbreviata Oliv. subsp. beareana
(Holmes) Brenan Fabaceae 88
213 Cassia petersiana Bolle Fabaceae
410 Cassine aethiopica Thunb. Celastraceae
416 Cassine transvaalensis (Burtt Davy) Codd Celastraceae
Catha edulis (Vahl) Forsk. ex Endl. Celastraceae
689 Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirvengadum
subsp. spinosa Rubiaceae
39 Celtis africana Burm. f. Ulmaceae
Chaetacme aristata Planch. Ulmaceae
614 Chionanthus battiscombei (Hutch.) Stearn Ebenaceae
615 Chionanthus foveolatus (E. Mey) Stearn
subsp. foveolatus Ebenaceae
265 Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f. ex Benth. Rutaceae
320 Cleistanthus schlechteri (Pax) Hutch. Euphorbiaceae
667 Clerodendrum glabrum E. Mey. Verbenaceae
667.1 Clerodendrum myricoides (Hochst.) Vatke Verbenaceae
689.1 Coddia rudis (E. Mey. ex Harv.) Verdc. Rubiaceae
198 Colophospermum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.)
Kirk ex J. Leon. Fabaceae
Combretum apiculatum Sond. subsp.
apiculatum Combretaceae 169
534 Combretum celastroides Welw. ex Laws.
subsp. celastroides Combretaceae 226
541 Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp.
gazense (Swynn. & Bak. f.) Okafor Combretaceae 174
541.2 Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp.
suluense (Engl. & Diels) Okafor Combretaceae IS)
541.3 Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp.
taborense (Engl.) Okafor Combretaceae 224
536 Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond. Combretaceae
538 Combretum hereroense Schinz Combretaceae
539 Combretum imberbe Wawra Combretaceae
540 Combretum kraussii Hochst. Combretaceae
540.1 Combretum microphyllum Klotzsch Combretaceae
Sif Combretum molle R.Br. ex G. Don Combretaceae
540.3 Combretum mossambicense (Klotzsch) Engl. Combretaceae
Combretum paniculatum subsp.
microphyllum = C. microphyllum
545 Combretum woodii Duemmer Combretaceae 176
Combretum zeyheri Sond. Combretaceae
270 Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. Burseraceae
Zs Commiphora edulis (Klotzsch) Engl. Burseraceae 108

295
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES

National
number Species Family Page
285.1 Commiphora glandulosa Schinz Burseraceae 114
ia, Commiphora harveyi (Engl.) Engl. Burseraceae 109
278 Commiphora marlothii Engl. Burseraceae 110
279 Commiphora merkeri Engl. Burseraceae ila
280 Commiphora mollis (Oliv.) Engl. Burseraceae ne
283 Commiphora neglecta Verdoorn Burseraceae 113
285 Commiphora pyracanthoides Burseraceae 247
Commiphora pyracanthoides subsp.
glandulosa = C. glandulosa
Commiphora pyracanthoides subsp.
pyracanthoides = C. pyracanthoides
287 Commiphora schimperi (O. Berg) Engl. Burseraceae 115
289 Commiphora tenuipetiolata Engl. Burseraceae 116
291ml Commiphora zanzibarica (Baill.) Engl. Burseraceae 245
Cordia gharaf= C. ovalis
653 Cordia grandicalyx Oberm. Boraginaceae 210
654 Cordia ovalis R. Br. ex DC. Borginaceae AES
216 Cordyla africana Lour. Fabaceae 90
683 Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G. Don) Benth. Rubiaceae 216
328 Croton gratissimus Burch. var. gratissimus Euphorbiaceae 130
328.1 Croton gratissimus Burch. var. subgratissimus
(Prain) Burtt Davy . Euphorbiaceae P32)
329 Croton megalobotrys Muell. Arg. Euphorbiaceae 131
52 OM Croton steenkampianus Gerstner Euphorbiaceae HSS)
330 Croton sylvaticus Hochst. Euphorbiaceae 237)
562 Cussonia natalensis Sond. Araliaceae 184
564 Cussonia spicata Thunb. Araliaceae 185
22 Dalbergia armata E. Mey. Fabaceae 250
232 Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr. Fabaceae 2
234 Dalbergia nitidula Bak. Fabaceae 245
430 Deinbollia oblongifolia (E. Mey. ex Arn.) Radlk. Sapindaceae 244
430.1 Deinbollia xanthocarpa (Klotzsch) Radlk. Sapindaceae 244
190 Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight ex Arn. subsp.
africana Brenan & Brumm. var. africana Fabaceae 78
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. subsp. africana
Brenan & Brumm. yar. africana Fabaceae 78
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. subsp.
nyassana (Taub.) Brenan Fabaceae 79
Dinocanthium hystrix Brem. Rubiaceae 249
Diospyros lycioides Desf. subsp. lycioides Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros lycioides Desf. subsp. sericea
(Bernh.) De Winter Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros mespiliformes Hochst. ex A.DC. Ebenaceae 193
Diospyros natalensis (Harv.) Brenan subsp. natalensis Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros natalensis (Harv.) Brenan subsp.
nummularia (Brenan) F. White Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros usambarensis F. White Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros villosa (L.) De Wint. Ebenaceae 234
Diospyros whyteana (Hiern) F. White Ebenaceae 234
Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Muell. Arg.)
Pichon Apocynaceae 206
Dodonaea angustifolia L.F. Sapindaceae
Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia = D. angustifolia 230
Dombeya burgessiae Gerr. ex Hary. Sterculiaceae 235)
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES
National
number Species Family Page
469 Dombeya cymosa Harv. Sterculiaceae 160
470 Dombeya kirkii Mast. Sterculiaceae 233
470.1 Dombeya pulchraN.E. Br. Sterculiaceae 235
471 Dombeya rotundifolia (Hochst.) Planch. var.
rotundifolia Sterculiaceae 161
507 Dovyalis caffra (Hook f. & Harv.) Hook. f. Flacourtiaceae 248
511 Dovyalis zeyheri (Sond.) Warb. Flacourtiaceae 248
314 Drypetes gerrardii Hutch. Euphorbiaceae 122
S15 Drypetes mossambicensis Hutch Euphorbiaceae 123
656 Ehretia amoena Klotzsch Boraginaceae 239
298 Ekebergia capensis Sparrm. Meliaceae 19
193 Elephantorrhiza burkei Benth. Fabaceae 246
WS. Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Harms) Harms subsp.
goetzei Fabaceae 246
293 Entandrophragma caudatum (Sprague) Sprague Meliaceae
Enterospermum littorale = Tarenna littoralis 118
Erythrina humeana Spreng. Fabaceae 252
Erythrina latissima E. Mey. Fabaceae 99
Erythrina lysistemon Hutch. Fabaceae 100
Erythroxylum delagoense Schinz. Erythroxylaceae 229
Erythroxylum emarginatum Thonn. Erythroxylaceae 229
Euclea crispa (Thunb.) Guerke subsp. crispa Ebenaceae 224
Euclea divinorum Hiern Ebenaceae 192
Euclea natalensis A.DC. subsp. natalensis Ebenaceae 233
Euclea schimperi (A.DC.) Dandy var.
daphnoides (Hiern) De Winter Ebenaceae 231
Euclea schimperi (A.DC.) Dandy var. schimperi Ebenaceae Zell
Euclea undulata Thunb. var. myrtina (Burch.) Hiern Ebenaceae 233
Euclea undulata Thunb. var. undulata Ebenaceae 233
Eugenia zeyheri Harv. Myrtaceae 224
Euphorbia confinalis R.A. Dyer subsp. confinalis Euphorbiaceae 133
Euphorbia cooperi N.E. Br. ex Berger Euphorbiaceae 134
Euphorbia evansii Pax Euphorbiaceae 135
Euphorbia guerichiana Pax Euphorbiaceae 230
Euphorbia ingens E. May. ex Boiss. Euphorbiaceae 136
Euphorbia tirucalli L. Euphorbiaceae
Fagara capensis = Zanthoxylum capense
Fagara davyi = Zanthoxylum davyi
Fagara leprieurii = Zanthoxylum leprieurit 137
ds Faurea saligna Harv. Proteaceae 37
76 Faurea speciosa (Welw.) Welw. Proteaceae 38
63 Ficus abutilifolia (Miq.) Miq. Moraceae 32
Ficus burkei = F. thonningii
Ficus capensis = F. sur.
50.1 Ficus capreifolia Del. Moraceae Zoi
64 Ficus glumosa (Miq.) Del. Moraceae 33
55 Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. Moraceae 28
Sif Ficus natalensis Hochst. Moraceae 29
Ficus petersii = F. thonningii
Ficus pretoriae = F. salicifolia
47 Ficus sansibarica Warb. Moraceae
60 Ficus salicifolia Vahl Moraceae
Ficus smutsii = F. tettensis
Ficus soldanella = F. abutilifolia
Ficus sonderi = F. glumosa

MSI
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES

National
number — Species Family Page
65 Ficus stuhlmannii Warb. Moraceae 34
50 Ficus sur Forssk. Moraceae
66 Ficus sycomorus L. subsp. sycomorus Moraceae 35
62 Ficus tettensis Hutch. Moraceae Sil
48 Ficus thonningii B1. Moraceae 26
506 Flacourtia indica (Burm f.) Merr. Flacourtiaceae 248
523 Galpinia transvaalica N.E. Br. Lythraceae 168
486 Garcinia livingstoneiT.Anders. Clusiaceae 165
690 Gardenia amoena Sims Rubiaceae 249
Gardenia asperula = G. ternifolia subsp.
Jovis-tonantis var. goetzel
Gardenia jovis-tonantis = G. ternifolia subsp.
Jovis-tonantis var. goetzel
Gardenia spatulifolia = G. volkensii subsp.
volkensii
690.2 Gardenia ternifolia Schum & Thonn. subsp.
Jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. var. goetzei
(Stapf & Hutch) Verdc. Rubiaceae 227
691 Gardenia volkensti K. Schum. subsp. volkensii Rubiaceae 218
458 Grewia bicolor Juss. Tiliaceae 235
459 Grewia caffra Meisn. Tiliaceae 238
459.1 Grewia flava DC. Tiliaceae 238
459.2 Grewia flavescens Juss. Tiliaceae 238
460 Grewia hexamita Burret Tiliaceae iN)
460.1 Grewia inaequilatera Garcke Tiliaceae 238
461.1 Grewia microthyrsa K. Schum ex Burret Tiliaceae USS
462 Grewia monticola Sond. Tiliaceae 158
463 Grewia occidentalis L. Tiliaceae 238
463.1 Grewia retinervis Burret Tiliaceae 238
463.2 Grewia villosa Willd. Tiliaceae 239)
200 Guibourtia conjugata (Bolle) J. Leonard Fabaceae 84
120 Gyrocarpus americanus Jacq. Hernandiaceae 45
568 Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.)
Cham. & Schlechtd. Apiaceae 246
455 Heteropyxis natalensis Hary. Myrtaceae
106 Hexalobus monopetalus (A. Rich.) Engl. & Diels Annonaceae
438 Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f.) Radlk. Sapindaceae
642 Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. Apocynaceae
668 Holmskioldia tettensis (Klotzsch) Vatke Verbenaceae
501 Homalium dentatum (Harv.) Warb. var. novum Flacourtiaceae
sy Hymenocardia ulmoides Oliv. Euphorbiaceae
682 Hymenodictyon parvifolium Oliv. subsp.
parvifolium Rubiaceae
23 Hyphaene natalensis Kunze Arecaceae
678 Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. Bignoniaceae
267 Kirkia acuminata Oliv. Simaroubaceae
269 Kirkia wilmsii Engl. Simaroubaceae
700.1 Kraussia floribunda Harv. Rubiaceae
Kraussia schlechteri = K. floribunda
362 Lannea discolor (Sond.) Engl. Anacardiaceae
363 Lannea schweinfurthii (Engl.) Engl. var.
stuhlmannii (Engl.) Kokwaro Anacardiaceae
Lannea stuhlmannii = L. schweinfurthii var.
stuhlmannii

258
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES
National
number Species Family Page
Linociera battiscombei = Chionanthus battiscombei
Linociera foveolata subsp. foveolata
= Chionanthus foveolatus subsp. foveolatus
238 Lonchocarpus capassa Rolfe Fabaceae
132 Maerua angolensis DC. Capparaceae
133 Maerua cafra (DC.) Pax Capparaceae
135 Maerua rosmarinoides (Sond.) Gilg & Ben Capparaceae
Sil Maesa lanceolata Forsk. var. rufescens (A.DC.) Taton Myrsinaceae
586 Manilkara concolor (Harv. ex C.H. Wr.) Gerstner Sapotaceae
587 Manilkara mochisia (Bak.) Dubard Sapotaceae
310 Margaritaria discoidea (Baill.) Webster subsp.
nitida (Pax) Webster Euphorbiaceae 230
677 Markhamia acuminata (Klotzsch) K. Schum. Bignoniaceae
399 Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N.K.B. Robson Celastraceae 144
89012 Maytenus mossambicensis (Klotzsch) Blakelock var.
mossambicensis Celastraceae 247
402 Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell Celastraceae 247
403 Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock Celastraceae 145
Mimusops marginata = Vitellariopsis marginata
585 Mimusops zeyheri Sond. Sapotaceae 189
107 Monodora junodii Engl. & Diels Annonaceae 228
226 Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A. Chev. Fabaceae 245
Myrica conifera = M. serrata
38 Myrica serrata Lam. Myricaceae 236
191 Newtonia hildebrandtii (Vatke) Torre var. hildebrandtii Fabaceae
Nuxia floribunda Benth. Loganiaceae 225
635 Nuxia oppositifolia (Hochst.) Benth. Loganiaceae 204
479 Ochna arborea Burch. ex DC. var. arborea Ochnaceae
480.1 Ochna inermis (Forssk.) Schweinf. Ochnaceae
481 Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. Ochnaceae
Ochna oconnorii = O. arborea
483 Ochna pulchra Hook. Ochnaceae 164
101 Olax dissitiflora Oliv. Olacaceae
617 Olea europaea L. subsp. africana (Mill.) P.S. Green Olacaceae 196
492 Oncoba spinosa Forssk. Flacourtiaceae 247
230 Ormocarpum trichocarpum (Taub.) Engl. Fabaceae 245
Ostryoderris stuhlmannii = Xeroderris stuhlmannit
371 Ozoroaengleri R. & A. Fernandes Anacardiaceae 141
376 Ozoroa insignis Del. subsp. reticulata (Bak.f.) J.B. Gillett Anacardiaceae 143
S75) Ozoroa paniculosa (Sond.) R. & A. Fernandes Anacardiaceae 142
714.1 Pachystigma macrocalyx (Sond.) Robyns Rubiaceae 228
433 Pappea capensis Eckl. & Zeyh. Sapindaceae 150
146 Parinari curatellifolia Planch. ex Benth. Rosaceae 49
Pavetta assimilis Sond. var. assimilis = P. gardeniifolia
var. gardeniifolia
Pavetta assimilis var. pubescens = P. gardeniifolia
var. subtomentosa
717 Pavetta edentula Sond, Rubiaceae Pip
Pavetta gardeniifolia A. Rich. var. gardeniifolia Rubiaceae 228
716.1 Pavetta gardeniifolia A. Rich. var subtomentosa
K. Schum. Rubiaceae 228
Pavetta schumanniana F. Hoffm. ex K. Schum. Rubiaceae 228
721
Pavetta zeyheri Sond. Rubiaceae 226
722
Peltophorum africanum Sond. Fabaceae 89
215

259
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES

National
number __ Species Family Page
DD) Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Arecaceae 20
Phyllanthus discoideus = Margaritaria discoidea
311 Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. Euphorbiaceae 230
209 Piliostigma thonningii (K. Schum.) Milne-Redh. Fabaceae 87
dilis Plectroniella armata (K. Schum.) Robyns Rubiaceae 249
104 Portulacaria afra Jacq. Portulacaceae 4]
70 Pouzolzia hypoleuca Wedd. Urticaceae 231
658 Premna mooiensis (H. Pears.) Pieper Verbenaceae 211
308 Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax Euphorbiaceae 121
292 Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk. Ptaeroxylaceae 117
547 Pteleopsis myrtifolia (Laws.) Engl. & Diels Combretaceae 178
236 Pterocarpus angolensis DC. Fabaceae WS
236.1 Pterocarpus lucens Guill. & Perr. subsp. antunesii
(Taub.) Rojo Fabaceae 94
237 Pterocarpus rotundifolius (Sond.) Druce subsp.
rotundifolius Fabaceae 95
403.1 Putterlickia pyracantha (L.) Szyszyl. Celastraceae 247
Randia dumetorum = Catunaregam spinosa
Randia obovatum = Catunaregam spinosa
Randia rudis = Coddia rudis
647 Rauvolfia caffra Sond. Apocynaceae 208
676 Rhigozum zambesiacum Bak. Bignoniaceae 250
456.2 Rhoicissus digitata (L.f.) Gilg & Brandt Vitaceae 241
456.3 Rhoicissus revoilii Planch. Vitaceae 241
456.5 Rhoicissus tomentosa (Lam.) Wild & Drum. Vitaceae Pai
456.6 Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & Drum. Vitaceae 242
Rhus amerina = R. leptodictya
384 Rhus queinzii Sond. Anacardiaceae 243
386 Rhus lanceae L.f. Anacardiaceae 241
387 Rhus leptodictya Diels Anacardiaceae 242
3 Rhus pentheri Zahlbr. Anacardiaceae 243
392 Rhus pyroides Burch. Anacardiaceae 243
3B). Ih Rhus rehmanniana Engl. Anacardiaceae 242
Rhus simii = R. gueinzii
Rhus spinescens = R. gueinzii
396.1 Rhus transvaalensis Engl. Anacardiaceae 241
694 Salix wilmsii = S. woodii
Rothmannia fischeri (K. Schum.) Bullucl Rabiaceae 219
36.3 Salix woodii Seemen Salicaceae 236
621 Salvadora angustifolia Turrill var. australis
(Schweik.) Verdoorn Salvadoraceae 197
622 Salvadora persica L. Salvadoraceae 225
202 Schotia brachypetala Sond. Fabaceae 85
203 Schotia capitata Bolle Fabaceae 244
613 Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. Oleaceae 194
360 Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. subsp. caffra
(Sond.) Kokwaro Anacardiaceae 138
498 Scolopia zeyheri (Nees) Harv. Flacourtiaceae 248
303 Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. Polygalaceae 232
309 Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Pax & K. Hoffm. Euphorbiaceae 230
680 Sesamothamnus lugardii N.E. Br. Pedaliaceae 214
229.1 Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. subsp. sesban
var. nubica Chiov. Fabaceae 244
579 Sideroxylon inerme L. Sapotaceae 187

260
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES
National
number Species Family Page
341 Spirostachys africana Sond. Euphorbiaceae iL3y2
435 Stadmania oppositifolia Poir. subsp. rhodesica Excell Sapindaceae 151
569 Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. Apiaceae 186
475 Sterculia murex Hemsl. Sterculiaceae 162
477 Sterculia rogersii N.E. Br. Sterculiaceae 163
624 Strychnos decussata (Pappe) Gilg Loganiaceae 198
625 Strychnos henningsii Gilg Loganiaceae 199
626 Strychnos madagascariensis Poir. Loganiaceae 200
630 Strychnos potatorum L.f. Loganiaceae 202
629 Strychnos spinosa Lam. Loganiaceae 201
631 Strychnos usambarensis Gilg Loganiaceae DS)
338 Suregada africana (Sond.) Kuntze Euphorbiaceae 236
S5i/el Synadenium cupulare (Boiss.) L.C. Wheeler Euphorbiaceae 230
555 Syzygium cordatum Hochst. Myrtaceae 182
557 Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. Myrtaceae 183
644 Tabernaemontana elegans Stapf. Apocynaceae 207
734 Tarchonanthus trilobus DC. var. galpinii
(Hutch. & Phill.) J. Paiva Asteraceae 240
687 Tarenna littoralis (Hiern) Bridson Rubiaceae
673.1 Tecomaria capensis (Thunb.) Spach Bignoniaceae 246
Terminalia brachystemma Welw. ex Hiern Combretaceae 231
Terminalia phanerophlebia Engl. & Diels Combretaceae 179
Terminalia pruniodes Laws. Combretaceae 180
Terminalia sericea Burch. ex DC. Combretaceae 181
Thilachium africanum Lour. Capparaceae 240
Toddaliopsis bremekampii Verdoorn Rutaceae 241
Trema orientalis (L.) Blume Ulmaceae 24
Tricalysia capensis (Meisn.) Sim Rubiaceae 22)
Trichilia emetica Vahl Meliaceae 120
Turraea nilotica Kotschy & Peyr Meliaceae 232
Urera tenax N.E. Br. Urticaceae 36
Uvaria caffra E. Mey ex Sond. Annonaceae 3B)
Uvaria lucida Benth. subsp. virens (N.E.Br.) Verdc. Annonaceae 228
Vangueria infausta Burch. Rubiaceae 220
Vepris reflexa Verdoorn Rutaceae 105
Vernonia ampla = V. stipulacea
Vernonia colorata (Willd.) Drake Asteraceae 236
Vernonia stipulacea Klatt Asteraceae 239
Vitellariopsis marginata (N.E.Br.) Aubrev. Sapotaceae 231
Vitex amboniensis Guerke Verbenaceae 243
Vitex harveyana H. Pearson Verbenaceae 243
Vitex swynnertonii = V. amboniensis
665 Vitex wilmsii Guerke Verbenaceae 241
Warburgia salutaris (Bertol. f.) Chiov. Canellaceae 166
Wrightia natalensis Stapf. Apocynaceae 209
Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Bak.) Dumaz-le-Grand Fabaceae
240 Xeroderris stuhlmannii (Taub.) Mendonca & E.P. Sousa Fabaceae 97
Xeromporhis obovata = Catunaregam spinosa
subsp. spinosa
Xeromphis rudis = Coddia rudis
102 Ximenia americana L. var. microphylla Welw. ex Oliv. Olacaceae 247
103 Ximenia caffra Sond. var. caffra Olacaceae 40
192 Xylia torreana Brenan Fabaceae
110 Xylopia odoratissima Welw. ex Oliv. Anneonaceae 44

261
INDEX SCIENTIFIC NAMES

National
number Species Family Page
109 Xylopia parviflora (A. Rich.) Benth. Annonaceae 232
493 Xylotheca kraussiana Hochst. Flacourtiaceae 233)
253 Zanthoxylum capense (Thunb.) Harv. Rutaceae 103
254 Zanthoxylum davyi (Verdoorn) ex Hiern. Rutaceae jsy)
2S), Il Zanthoxylum leprieurti Guill. & Perr. Rutaceae 252
447 Ziziphus mucronata Willd. subsp. mucronata Rhamnaceae 152
448 Ziziphus rivularis Codd Rhamnaceae 153

262
INDEX AFRIKAANS VERNACULAR NAMES
Figures in brackets denote the national number of the tree
Aartappelbos (311) 230 Bosvlier (634) 225
Afrikaanse hondsroos (493) 233 Bosysterpruim (314) 122
Anaboom (159) 59 Botterklapper (626) 200
Apiespeul (213) 213 Brakdoring (183.1) 72
Appelblaar (238) 96 Breéblaarboekenhout (76) 38
Breéblaarkanferboom (734) 240
Basboontjie (193) 246 Breéblaarkoraalboom (244) 99
Basterassegaai (577) 239 Breéblaarwitgat (126) 229
Basterbasboontjie (192.1) 246 Breépeulvalsdoring
(154) 55
Basterbokdrol (715) 249 Bruinivoor (449) 154
Basterbosvaderlandswilg(545) 176 Bruinysterhout (501) 167
Basterkorenteharpuisboom (376) 143 Buikdoring (174.1) 68
Bastermaroela
(363) 140
Basterpendoring (403.1) 247 Delagoadoring (163) 62
Basterperdepis (438) 245 Deurmekaarbos (657)
Basterskurwerosyntjie (463.1) 238 Dikbas (362) 139
Bastertaaibos (423) 242 Dooiemansboom (357.1) 230
Bastertambotie (320) 126 Dopperkiaat (237) 95
Bastervaalboom (548) 231 Doppruim (433) 150
Bastervaalrosyntjie (460.1) 238 Doringbeenappel (689) 248
Bergaalwyn (29.5) 251 Doringkaree (384) 243
Bergbrandnetel(71) 36 Doringkatjiepiering(690) 249
Bergkaree (387) 242 Doringkiaat (236.1) 94
Bergmahonie (293) 118 Doringalm (43) 246
Bergrotsvy
(64) 33 Doringpeer (498) 248
Bergsering (269) 107 Doringtrosblaar (550) 180
Bergvalsdoring (152) 53 Doringtou (231) 250
Besemtrosvy
(50) 27 Driehaakdoring (185.1) 74
Bitterbosdruif (456.3) 241 Drolpeer (471) 161
Bittervalsdoring (149) 51 Duinebotterlepelbos (687) 225
Bleekblaarboom (155) 56 Duineseepbessie (430) 244
Blinkblaarkanniedood (287) 115
Blinkblaar-wag-'n-bietjie (447) 152 Egossarooipeer(310) 230
Blinkplatboontjie (234) 245 Egte mosterdboom (622) 225
Blombos (470.1) 235 Essenhout (298) 119
Bloubitterbessie (631) 225
Bloubittertee (723.2) 239 Fluweelboswilg (537) 171
Bloughwarrie (594) 224 Fluweelkanniedood (280) 112
Blouhaak (164) 64 Fluweelrosyntjie (459.1) 238
Blousoetbessie
(322) 230 Fluweelsoetbessie (325) 128
Blousuurpruim (102) 247 Fynblaarbruidsbos (722) 226
Bobbejaandruif (456.2) 241 Fynblaarghwarrie (601.1) 233
Boesmansdruif (456.6) 242 Fynblaarjakkalsbessie (607) 234
Boesmanstee (404) 146 Fynblaarkokaboom (248) 229
Boomaalwyn (28) 22
Bosbitterhout (109) 232 Geelkatjiepiering (690.2) 227
Bosghwarrie (600) 231 Geelwortelboom (569) 186
Boskoffie (698) 227 Gewone bokdrol (708) 249
Boskoorsbessie (330) 337 Gewone bosdruif (456.5) 237
Boskoorsboom (632) 203 Gewone bruidsbos (716) 228
Bosmelkhout (590) 231 Gewone ghwarrie (601) 233
Bosvaderlandswilg (540) 224 Gewone gifboom (639) 225
Bosvalsnetel (335.1) 237 Gewone haakdoring (162) 61
Bosveldkanferfoelicboom (297) 227 Gewone harpuisboom (375) 142
Bosveldklipels (707) 227 Gewone kanariebessie (338) 236
Bosveldwitysterhout (260) 105 Gewone kanniedood (285) 247

263
Gewone kiepersol (564) 185 Kleinbeenappel (689.1) 227
Gewone kokaboom (249) 229 Kleinblaarrotsvy (62) 31
Gewone koraalboom (245) 100 Kleinboerboon (203) 244
Gewone kraaibessie (391) 243 Kleingroendoring (252) 102
Gewone pendoring (399) 144 Kleinharpuisblaar (667.1) 227
Gewone pokysterhout (615) 225 Kleinkoraalboom (243.1) 252
Gewone sterkastaiing (477) 183 Kleinperdepram (253) 103
Gewone taaibos (392) 243 Kleinsuurpruim (101) 39
Gewone trosvy (66) 35 Kleintrospeer (108.1) 232
Gewone wildevy (48) 26 Klipels (710) 227
Gewone wildewilger (36.3) 236 Kliertjiesboom (717) 221
Ghwarrie (595) 192 Klokkiesboontjieboom (677) 212
Gifbruidsbos (721) 228 Knoppiesboontjie (132) 48
Goewerneurspruim (506) 248 Knoppiesdoring (178) 69
Groenappel (107) 228 Knoppiesklimop (540.3) 224
Groendoring (251) 101 Knoppiesvy (47) 25
Groenklapper (629) 201 Koeboebessie (410) 236
Grootblaarrotsvy (63) 32 Koedoebessie (308) 121
Grootblaarsekelbos (190.1) 79 Koffiebitterbessie (625) 199
Grootblaarvalsdoring (158) 58 Kokoboom (403) 145
Groot gewone kanniedood (285.1) 114 Komkommerbos (136.2) 240
Groothaakbessie (105.1) 232 Koorsboom (189) 77
Grootkoorsbessie (329) 131 Koorspeulboom (642) 226
Groottrospeer (108.2) 228 Kraalnaboom (355) 137
Grysappel (146) 49 Kransaalwyn (28.1) 250
Kransvingerblaar (660) 243
Haak-en-steek
(188) 76 Kremetart (467) 159
Hardekool (539) 173 Krinkhout (303) 232
Harpuisblaar (667) 226 Kroonmispel (714.1) 228
Harige bruidsbos (716.1) 228 Kruisbessie (463) 238
Harige kanniedood (270) 242 Kurkbos (226) 245
Harige laventelkoorsbessie (328.1) 233 Kurkdoring (163.1) 63
Harige sterappel (610) 234 Kusvaalbos (724) 239
Harige vingerblaar (665) 241 Kwar (711) 226
Helikopterboom(120) 445
Hophout (42) 24 Laeveldbittertee (723.4) 236
Horingdoring (168.1) 66 Laeveldkastaiing (475) 162
Horingpeultjieboom (643) 206 Laeveldmelkbessie (587) 191
Huilboerboon (202) 85 Laeveldnaboom (348) 136
Huilboom (215) 89 Laeveldrooihout (480.1) 237
Laeveldse geelmelkhout (486) 165
Impalalelie (647.3) 231 Laeveldse paddaboom (644) 207
Laeveldvaalbos (727) 222
Jakkalsbessie (606) 193 Laeveldvy (65) 34
Lalapalm (23) 21
Kaapse kanferfoelie (673.1) 246 Laventelboom (455) 156
Kaapse kiaat (624) 198 Laventelkoorsbessie (328) 130
Kaapse rooihout (479) 235 Lebombo-aalwyn (30.4) 251
Kaapse sandolien (437.1) 230 Lebombojakkalsbessie (607.1) 234
Kameelspoor (209) 87 Lebombokransesseboom (427) 149
Kanferbos (733) Lebombonaboom (345) 133
Karee (386) 241 Lebomborosyntjie (461.1) 235
Karoobloubos (605) 234 Lebombotrosblaar (549) 179
Kei-appel (507) 248 Lebombowattel (191) 80
Kiaat (236) 93 Lebombo-ysterhout (327) 129
Kierieklapper (538) 172 Lekkerbreek (483) 164
Kinaboom (647) 208 Lekkerruikpeul (179) 70
Kleefdoring (160.1) 249
Kleinbastermopanie (200) 84 Malvarosyntjie (463.2) 239

264
Maroela (360) 138 Saalpeultjieboom (650) 209
Mingerhout (684) 217 Sambokpeul (212) 88
Mirteboswilg (547) 178 Sandessenhout (192) 81
Mispel (702) 220 Sandkamhout (233) 229
Mitserie (324) 127 Sandkroonbessie (683) 216
Moepel (585) 189 Sandperdepram (255.1) 252
Mopanie (198) 83 Sandysterpruim (315) 123
Mopanie-aalwyn (29.4) 251 Savannebitterhout (110) 44
Mopaniegranaat (676) 250 Sebrabaskanniedood (279) 111
Muishondbos (658) 211 Sebrahout (232) 92
Seepnetel (70) 231
Naaldblaarwitbos
(135) 240 Sekelbos (190) 78
Naboom (351) 135 Shakamapruim (106) 43
Natalbloubos (605.1) 234 Silwerboswilg (541.3) 224
Nataldrolpeer (467) 160 Skilferdoring (164.1) 249
Natalghwarrie (597) 233 Skurweblaarbos (656) 239
Natalrooihout (481) 237 Skurweblaarkanniedood (275) 108
Natalse geelkeur (219) 245 Skurweblaarwitgat (122.1) 47
Natalvy (57) 29 Skurweklipels (712.1) 228
Natalwurmbos (129.1) 232 Skurwerosyntjie (459.2) 238
Nieshout (292) 117 Skurwevy (50.1) 231
Njalaboom (241) 98 Slapdoring (179.1) 250
Slaploot (185) 73
Olienhout (617) 196 Smalblaarwasbessie (38) 236
Snotbessie (654) 235
Papierbasdoring (187) 75 Snuifkalbassie (492) 247
Papierbaskanniedood (278) 110 Soetdoring (172) 67
Papierbasmelkbos (344) 230 Soetwortelkanniedood (283) 113
Papierbasvalsdoring (157) 57 Spekboom (104) 41
Peperbasboom (488) 166 Speldedoring (622.1) 248
Perdepis (265) 244 Stamvrug (581) 188
Perdepram (254) 252 Stinkwitgat (127) 229
Persdrolpeer (468.1) 235 Stompblaartaaibos (393.1) 242
Peulmahonie (207) 86 Suurpruim (103) 40
Platkroon (148) 50 Swartapiesdoring (161) 60
Pruimvingerblaar (659) 243 Swartbas (611) 234
Swartbastertaaibos (425) 242
Raasblaar (546) 177 Swartbitterbessie (630) 202
Rankboswilg (534) 226 Swartbospendoring (399.2) 247
Rankrosyntjie (459) 238 Swartstorm (129) 229
Reuserosyntjie (460) 157 Swazidoring (187.2) 250
Rhodesiese boswilg (541) 174 Sypruim (435) 151
Rhodesiese katjiepiering (694) 219
Rivierblinkblaar (448) 153 Tambotie (341) 132
Rivierboontjie (229.1) 244 Transvaalboekenhout (75) 37
Rivierdrolpeer (470) 233 Transvaalkatjiepiering
(691) 218
Rivierrankdoring (184.1) 252 Transvaalliguster
(523) 168
Rondeblaargifboom (640) 205 Transvaalsaffraan (416) 147
Rondeblaarpieringbessie (653) 210 Transvaalse kandelaarnaboom (346) 134
Rooiblaarrotsvy (55) 28 Transvaalse mosterdboom (621) 197
Rooiboswilg (532) 169 Transvaalse seepbessie (430.1) 244
Rooidoring (167) 65 Transvaalse sesambos (680) 214
Rooi-essenhout (301) 120 Transvaaltaaibos (396.1) 241
Rooihartboom (317) 124 Treurboswilg (541.2) 175
Rooi-ivoor (450) 155
Rooipendoring (402) 247 Vaalboom (551) 181
Rooistamkanniedood (277) 109 Vaalrosyntjie (462) 158
Rotskiepersol(562) 184 Vaderlandswilg (536) 170
Rusperboontjie (230) 245 Vanwykshout (222) 91
Veelstamvalsdoring (152) 54 Wildesering (197) 82
Vendakralesnoer (334) 236 Wildesuikerappel
(105) 42
Vlamdoring (160) 252 Witbessiebos (309) 230
Vilamklimop (540.1) 224 Witbos (133) 240
Vlam-van-die-vlakte (208.2) 240 Witgat (122) 46
Vleikoorsbessie (329.1) 233 Witdoring (180) 71
Vlerkboon (240) 97 Witharpuisboom (371) 141
Voélsitboom (318) 125 Witmelkhout (579) 187
Witpeer (422) 148
Waterbessie (555) 182 Witrosyntjie (458) 235
Waterpeer (557) 183 Witsering (267) 106
Waterpokysterhout (614) 195 Witstamghwarrie (600.1) 231
Watervlier (635) 204 Witstamkanniedood (289) 116
Wilde-appelkoos (511) 248 Witstinkhout (39) 23
Wildedadelpalm (22) 20 Wollerige kapperbos (130. Ly 25d
Wildebrandbos (682) 215 Wonderboomvy (60) 30
Wildejasmyn (613) 194 Worsboom (678) 213
Wildekapperbos (130) 251 Wurmbasvalsdoring (150) 52
Wildekastaiing (256) 104 Wylliespoortaalwyn (28.4) 250
Wildekornoelie (700.1) 226
Wildemango (216) 90 Ystervarkbos (714.3) 249
Wildemirt (553) 224
Wildenartjie (262) 241 Zimbabwe-aalwyn (28.8) 251
Wildeparasolboom (668) 239 Zoeloemelkbessie (586) 196
Wildepietersieliebos
(568) 246

266
INDEX ENGLISH VERNACULAR NAMES
Figures in brackets denote the national number of the tree.
African dogrose (493) 233 Coffee bitterberry (625) 199
Ana tree (159) 59 Common bride’s bush (716) 228
Apple-leaf (238) 96 Common cabbage tree (564) 185
Common canary berry (338) 236
Baboon grape (456.2) 241 Common coca tree (249) 229
Baobab (467) 159 Common coral tree (245) 100
Bead-bean (132) 48 Common corkwood (285) 247
Bell bean tree (677) 212 Common crow-berry (391) 243
Belly thorn (174.1) 68 Common false-thorn (155) 56
Bitter false-thorn (149) 51 Common forest grape (456.5) 237
Bitter forest grape (456.3) 241 Common guarri (601) 233
Black bitterberry (630) 202 Common hook-thorn (162) 61
Black false currant (425) 242 Common pock ironwood (615) 225
Black forest spike-thorn (399.2) 247 Common poisonbush (639) 225
Black monkey thorn (161) 60 Common resin tree (375) 142
Black storm (129) 229 Common spike thorn (399) 144
Bladdernut (611) 234 Common star-chestnut (477) 163
Blue bitter tea (723.2) 239 Common tree Euphorbia (351) 135
Blue bitterberry (631) 225 Common turkey berry (708) 249
Blue currant (396.1) 241 Common wild currant (392) 243
Blue guarri (594) 224 Common wild fig (48) 26
Blue sourplum (102) 247 Common wild pear (471) 161
Blue sweetberry (322) 230 Common wild willow (36.3) 236
Blue thorn (164) 64 Cork bush (226) 245
Blunt-leaved currant (393.1) 242 Corky thorn (163.1) 63
Brack thorn (183.1) 72 Cross berry (463) 238
Broad-leaved beech (76) 38 Crowned medlar (714.1) 228
Broad-leaved camphor tree (734) 240 Cucumber bush (136.2) 240
Broad-leaved coral tree (244) 99
Broad-leaved shepherd’s tree (126) 229 Dead-man’s tree (357.1) 230
Broad-pod false-thorn (154) 55 Delagoa thorn (163) 62
Broom cluster fig (50) 27 Dune butterspoon bush (687) 225
Brown ironwood (501) 167 Dune soap-berry (430) 244
Brown ivory (449) 154 Dwarf boer-bean (203) 244
Buffalo-thorn (447) 152 Dwarf coral tree (243.1) 252
Bush bitterwood (109) 232
Bush cherry (133) 240 Egossa red pear (310) 230
Bush guarri (600) 231
Bush milkwood (590) 231 False assegai (577) 239
Bushman’s grape (456.6) 242 False buffalo-thorn (448) 153
Bushman’s tea (404) 146 False currant (423) 242
Bushveld honeysuckle tree (297) 232 False currant resin tree (376) 143
Bushveld rock alder (707) 227 False forest bushwillow (545) 176
Bushveld white ironwood (260) 105 False horsewood (438) 245
False marula (363) 140
Camel’s foot (209) 87 False rough-leaved raisin (463.1) 238
False silver cluster-leaf (548) 231
Cape ash (298) 119
Cape chestnut (256) 104 False silver raisin (460.1) 238
Cape honeysuckle (673.1) 246 False spike-thorn (403.1) 247
False sumach bean (192.1) 246
Cape plane (479) 235
Cape sand olive (437.1) 230 False tamboti (320) 126
Cape teak (624) 198 False turkey berry (715) 249
Fever pod (642) 226
Carrot tree (569) 186
Caterpillar bush (230) 245 Fever tree (189) 77
Flaky thorn (164.1) 249
Climbing raisin (459) 238
Flame creeper (540.1) 224
Coast silver oak (724) 239
Flame thorn (160) 252 Lebombo corkwood (291.1)
Flat crown (148) 50 Lebombo Euphorbia (345) 133
Forest bushwillow (540) 224 Lebombo ironwood (327) 129
Forest coffee (698) 227 Lebombo jackal berry (607.1) 234
Forest elder (634) 225 Lebombo krantz ash (427) 149
Forest false nettle (335.1) 237 Lebombo raisin (461.1) 235
Forest fever berry (330) 237 Lebombo wattle (191) 80
Forest fever tree (632) 203 Live-long (362) 139
Forest iron plum (314) 122 Lowveld bitter tea (723.4) 236
Lowveld chestnut (475) 162
Giant raisin (460) 157 Lowveld Euphorbia (348) 136
Gland-leaf tree (717) 221 Lowveld fig (65) 34
Glossy flat-bean (234) 245 Lowveld mangosteen (486) 165
Glossy leaved corkwood (287) 115 Lowveld milkberry (587) 191
Governor’s plum (506) 248 Lowveld plane (480.1) 237
Green apple (107) 228 Lowveld silver oak (727) 222
Green monkey orange (629) 201 Lowveld toad tree (644) 207
Green thorn (251) 101
Magic guarri (595) 192
Hairy bride’s bush (716.1) 228 Mallow raisin (463.2) 239
Hairy corkwood (270) 242 Many-stemmed false-thorn (153) 54
Hairy finger-leaf (665) 241 Marsh fever berry (329.1) 233
Hairy lavender fever berry (328.1) 233 Marula (360) 138
Hairy star-apple (610) 234 Matumi (684) 217
Horn-pod tree (643) 206 Mitzeeri (324) 127
Horned thorn (168.1) 66 Mobola plum (146) 49
Horsewood (265) 244 Monkey pod (213) 244
Mopane (198) 83
Impala lily (647.3) 231 Mopane aloe (29.4) 251
Mopane pomegranate (676) 250
Jackal berry (606) 193 Mountain aloe (29.5) 251
Jacket plum (433) 150 Mountain false-thorn (152) 53
Mountain karree (387) 242
Karree (386) 241 Mountain mahogany (293) 118
Karroo bluebush (605) 234 Mountain nettle (71) 36
Kei-apple (507) 248 Mountain rock fig (64) 33
Knob thorn (178) 69 Mountain seringa (269) 107
Knobbly creeper (540.3) 224 Myrtle bushwillow (547) 178
Knobbly fig (47) 25
Knobwood (254) 252 Natal bluebush (605.1) 234
Koko tree (403) 145 Natal fig (57) 29
Kooboo berry (410) 236 Natal guarri (597) 233
Krantz aloe (28.1) 250 Natal laburnum (219) 245
Kudu berry (308) 121 Natal mahogany (301) 120
Natal plane (481) 237
Lala palm (23) 21 Natal wild pear (469) 160
Lance-leaf waxberry (38) 236 Natal worm-bush (129.1) 232
Large cluster pear (108.2) 228 Needle bush (622.1) 248
Large fever berry (329) 131 Needle-leaved bush cherry (135) 240
Large-fruited bushwillow (546) 177 Nyala tree (241) 98
Large hook-berry (105.1) 232
Large-leaved false-thorn (158) 58 Paperbark corkwood (278) 110
Large-leaved rock fig (63) 32 Paperbark false-thorn (157) 57
Large-leaved sickle bush (190.1) 79 Paperbark milkbush (344) 230
Lavender fever berry (328) 130 Paperbark thorn (187) 75
Lavender tree (455) 156 Parsley tree (568) 246
Leadwood (539) 173 Peeling plane (483) 164
Lebombo aloe (30.4) 251 Pepper-bark tree (488) 166
Lebombo clusterleaf (549) 179 Pigeonwood (42) 24

268
Pink wild pear (468.1) 235 Silver wild pear (470.1) 235
Plum finger-leaf (659) 243 Sjambok pod (212) 88
Pod mahogany (207) 86 Skunk bush (658) 211
Poison bride’s bush (721) 228 Slender thorn (179.1) 250
Pongola corkwood (291.1) 245 Slender three-hook thorn (185) 73
Porcupine bush (714.3) 249 Small bone-apple (689.1) 227
Porkbush (104) 41 Small cluster-pear (108.1) 232
Potato bush (311) 230 Small copalwood (200) 84
Pride-of-De Kaap (208.2) 240 Small green thorn (252) 102
Propellor tree (120) 45 Small knobwood (253) 103
Small-leaved bride’s bush (722) 226
Quar(711) 226 Small-leaved coca tree (248) 229
Quinine tree (647) 208 Small-leaved guarri (601.1) 233
Small-leaved jackal-berry (607) 234
Red bushwillow (532) 169 Small-leaved rock fig (62) 31
Red-heart tree (317) 124 Small resin-leaf (667.1) 227
Red ivory (450) 155 Small sourplum (101) 39
Red-leaved rock fig (55) 28 Sneezewood (292) 117
Red mustard tree (622) 225 Snot berry (654) 235
Red-stem corkwood (277) 109 Snuff-box tree (492) 247
Red spike-thorn (402) 247 Soap nettle (70) 231
Red thorn (167) 65 Sourplum (103) 40
Resin-leaf (667) 226 Spineless monkey orange (626) 200
Rhodesian bushwillow (541) 174 Sticky thorn (160.1) 249
Rhodesian gardenia (694) 219 Stink shepherd’s tree (127) 229
River bean (229.1) 244 Sumach bean (193) 246
River bushwillow (536) 170 Swazi thorn (187.2) 250
River climbing thorn (184.1) 252 Sweet-root corkwood (283) 113
River wild pear (470) 233 Sweet thorn (172) 67
Rock alder (710) 227 Sycamore fig (66) 35
Rock cabbage tree (562) 184
Rough-leaved corkwood (275) 108 Tall common corkwood (285.1) 114
Rough-leaved raisin (459.2) 238 Tamboti (341) 132
Rough-leaved rock alder (712.1) 228 Tassel berry (318) 125
Rough-leaved shepherd’s tree (122.1) 47 Thorn pear (498) 248
Round-leaved poison-bush (640) 205 Thorny bone-apple (689) 248
Round-leaved saucer-berry (653) 210 Thorny cluster-leaf (550) 180
Round-leaved teak (237) 95 Thorny elm (43) 246
Rubber Euphorbia (355) 137 Thorny gardenia (690) 249
Russet bushwillow (538) 172 Thorny karree (384) 243
Thorny rope (231) 250
Saddle pod (650) 209 Thorny teak (236.1) 94
Sand ash(192) 81 Three-hook thorn (185.1) 74
Sand camwood (223) 229 Trailing bushwillow (534) 226
Sand crown berry (683) 216 Transvaal beech (75) 37
Sand iron plum (315) 123 Transvaal candelabra tree (346) 134
Sand knobwood (255.1) 252 Transvaal gardenia (691) 218
Sandpaper bush (656) 239 Transvaal milkplum (581) 188
Sandpaper fig (50.1) 231 Transvaal mustard tree (621) 197
Sausage tree (678) 213 Transvaal privet (523) 168
Savanna bitterwood (110) 44 Transvaal red milkwood (585) 189
Scented thorn (179) 70 Transvaal saffron (416) 147
Shakama plum (106) 43 Transvaal sesame bush (680) 214
Shepherd’s tree (122) 46 Transvaal soap-berry (430.1) 244
Sickle bush (190) 78 Transvaal teak (236) 93
Silky plum (435) 151 Tree aloe (28) 22
Silver bushwillow (541.3) 224 Tree Wistaria (222) 91
Silver cluster-leaf (551) 181
Silver raisin (462) 158 Umbrella thorn (188) 76

269
Velvet bushwillow (537) 171 Wild Cornel (700.1) 226
Velvet corkwood (280) 112 Wild custard-apple (105) 42
Velvet raisin (459.1) 238 Wild date palm (22) 20
Velvet sweetberry (325) 128 Wild firebush (682) 215
Venda bead-string (334) 236 Wild jasmine (613) 194
Violet tree (303) 232 Wild mandarin (262) 241
Wild mango (216) 90
Water berry (555) 182 Wild medlar (702) 220
Water elder (635) 204 Wild myrtle (553) 224
Water pear (557) 183 Wild olive (617) 196
Water pock ironwood (614) 195 Wild parasol flower (668) 239
Weeping boer-bean (202) 85 Wild seringa (197) 82
Weeping bushwillow (541.2) 175 Wing bean (240) 97
Weeping wattle (215) 89 Witrosyntjie (458) 235
White-berry bush (309) 230 Wonderboom fig (60) 30
White milkwood (579) 187 Woolly caper-bush (130.1) 251
White pear (422) 148 Worm-bark false-thorn (150) 52
White raisin (458) 235 Wylliespoort aloe (28.4) 250
White resin tree (371) 141
White seringa (267) 106 Yellow gardenia (690.2) 227
White-stem corkwood (289) 116
White-stem guarri (600.1) 231 Zanzibar camphor (291.1) 245
White stinkwood (39) 23 Zebra-bark corkwood (279) 111
White thorn (180) 71 Zebrawood (232) 92
Whorled finger-leaf (660) 243 Zimbabwe aloe (28.8) 251
Wild apricot (511) 248 Zulu milkberry (586) 190
Wild caper-bush (130) 251

270
NOTES

271
NOTES
In 1973-74 the two-volume work Trees of the Kruger National Park,
an authoritative botanical study, was published. After the enormous in-
terest shown in this work, now out of print, the author, Piet van Wyk,
Head of the Department of Research and Information of the National
Parks Board, was urged to produce a handbook for visitors to take
along with them on their trips to the Kruger Park.
This handy new format will become an indispensable reference for
every visitor interested in trees as each species was photographed by him
in full colour in its natural habitat and each entry contains a wealth of
information on the tree’s fruits, bark, flowers and leaves, aspects of its
growth rate, weight, uses of the wood, medicinal value and much
much more.
An additional feature in Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National
Park is the inclusion of notes on a further 175 species which, although
not growing to tree proportions in the park, do so elsewhere and are clas-
sified as trees in the National Tree List.
Mr Van Wyk was born in Rustenburg in 1941,
attended school at Brits and later graduated in
Botany and Chemistry from Potchefstroom
University, where he also did post-graduate re-
search. He first joined the team of the Kruger
National Park in 1961 as an assistant biologist.
He has authored and co-authored several
papers dealing with the ecological and botan-
ical aspects of wild life as part of his dedicated 3

I
determination to conserve our natural heritage. PIET YAN WYK

His work stands as a valuable contribution to

our appreciation of nature as well as being a |
source of pure scientific information. The book
will delight everyone seriously interested in the
preservation of our South African flora and
fauna. 9 "780869"'77

ISBN 0 86977 221 X

¥