TREES AND SHRUBS
Jacket plum, Pappea capensis
Indaba tree, doppruim
The jacket plum is a long-lived, hardy, evergreen, small to medium tree with a height of 2-8 m. Under ideal conditions it can grow at a moderate rate but can be slow-growing under dry and/or cold conditions. The leaves are simple and oblong, hard-textured and wavy. The red fruit of this tree is a tasty treat for humans and a firm favourite with birds and animals. A fine oil is extracted from the seeds. The jacket plum is related to the litchi and is a natural addition for the bird or wildlife garden. It is easily cultivated, although slow-growing in colder climates. The greenish flowers are followed by round green velvety fruits. Pappea capensis is widespread in southern Africa and naturally occurs in bushveld, riverine thicket, wooded grassland and rocky outcrops in grassland as well as scrub veld and is often found on termite mounds. The fruit is eaten by various birds and animals which in turn distribute the seeds in their droppings. The leaves are browsed by game such as elephant, giraffe, kudu, nyala, bushbuck, and grey duiker as well as domestic stock animals. The jacket plum has also been recorded as the larval food for the common hairtail butterfly (Anthene definita definita) link and the pearlspotted charaxes (Charaxes jahlusa) link.
Yellow pomegranate, Rhigozum obovatum
Geelberggranaat
The yellow pomegranate is a much-branched, spiny shrub or small tree 1,0-4,5 m high. The leaves are opposite or a compound leaf with three leaflets or rarely simple, and they are borne on short, spine-tipped side shoots. The leaflets are egg-shaped and widest at the tips and greyish green. The flowers are produced singly along the branches where the leaves emerge. They are showy, bright yellow, tubular or funnel-shaped with 5 lobes. Flowers are followed by white brownish fruits that split when mature to release buff-coloured seeds with papery wings. This beautiful plant grows on rocky outcrops and is frost tolerant. The bright yellow colour of the flowers attracts bees. It is heavily browsed by game and stock.
Shepherd's tree, Boscia albitrunca
Witgat
The shepherd's tree has a vast distribution and is usually found in the drier parts of southern Africa. It is often called the Tree of Life as it offers sustenance to both humans and animals. This is a medium-sized tree growing to 7m. It has an attractive spreading crown. The trunk is smooth and white or whitish grey with bare stems. The leathery, grey-green leaves are arranged in clusters. The flowers are yellowish green and heavily scented (July-Nov.) They are borne in clusters on short lateral shoots. The fruit is yellowish and smooth and the seed is usually single. The species has a number of pollinators and is a source of food for various mammals, birds and butterflies. Livestock as well as other herbivores in savanna areas such as giraffe, gemsbok and kudu browse the tree.
Indaba tree, doppruim
The jacket plum is a long-lived, hardy, evergreen, small to medium tree with a height of 2-8 m. Under ideal conditions it can grow at a moderate rate but can be slow-growing under dry and/or cold conditions. The leaves are simple and oblong, hard-textured and wavy. The red fruit of this tree is a tasty treat for humans and a firm favourite with birds and animals. A fine oil is extracted from the seeds. The jacket plum is related to the litchi and is a natural addition for the bird or wildlife garden. It is easily cultivated, although slow-growing in colder climates. The greenish flowers are followed by round green velvety fruits. Pappea capensis is widespread in southern Africa and naturally occurs in bushveld, riverine thicket, wooded grassland and rocky outcrops in grassland as well as scrub veld and is often found on termite mounds. The fruit is eaten by various birds and animals which in turn distribute the seeds in their droppings. The leaves are browsed by game such as elephant, giraffe, kudu, nyala, bushbuck, and grey duiker as well as domestic stock animals. The jacket plum has also been recorded as the larval food for the common hairtail butterfly (Anthene definita definita) link and the pearlspotted charaxes (Charaxes jahlusa) link.
Yellow pomegranate, Rhigozum obovatum
Geelberggranaat
The yellow pomegranate is a much-branched, spiny shrub or small tree 1,0-4,5 m high. The leaves are opposite or a compound leaf with three leaflets or rarely simple, and they are borne on short, spine-tipped side shoots. The leaflets are egg-shaped and widest at the tips and greyish green. The flowers are produced singly along the branches where the leaves emerge. They are showy, bright yellow, tubular or funnel-shaped with 5 lobes. Flowers are followed by white brownish fruits that split when mature to release buff-coloured seeds with papery wings. This beautiful plant grows on rocky outcrops and is frost tolerant. The bright yellow colour of the flowers attracts bees. It is heavily browsed by game and stock.
Shepherd's tree, Boscia albitrunca
Witgat
The shepherd's tree has a vast distribution and is usually found in the drier parts of southern Africa. It is often called the Tree of Life as it offers sustenance to both humans and animals. This is a medium-sized tree growing to 7m. It has an attractive spreading crown. The trunk is smooth and white or whitish grey with bare stems. The leathery, grey-green leaves are arranged in clusters. The flowers are yellowish green and heavily scented (July-Nov.) They are borne in clusters on short lateral shoots. The fruit is yellowish and smooth and the seed is usually single. The species has a number of pollinators and is a source of food for various mammals, birds and butterflies. Livestock as well as other herbivores in savanna areas such as giraffe, gemsbok and kudu browse the tree.