TREES AND SHRUBS
Milkwood, Sideroxylon inerme
Sideroxylon inerme is one of South Africa's protected trees and several specimens are provincial heritage sites. This is the only member of the Sideroxylon genus in southern Africa. Milkwood trees are scattered through the coastal forests and is a semi-coastal sturdy broadleaf evergreen tree with dense foliage, displays of white bisexual flowers and edible purplish-black berries. It boasts leathery, spiral leaves, which, like the berries, contain milky latex, traditionally used as a remedy for nightmares. Young branches and new leaves are always covered with fine hairs. The tree can reach 15 m. The milkwood has considerable value in traditional medicine and attracts birds, monkeys and other animals to its flowers and fruits. The milkwood has great significance in South Africa's heritage: The Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay is believed to be 600 years old. The Treaty Tree in Woodstock, Cape Town stood next to the house where in 1806 the Batavian Republic (surrendered Cape Town to the British. The Fingo Milkwood in the Eastern Cape was the location where in 1835 the Fengu people signed a treaty of alliance with the Cape Colony.
Noorsboom, Euphorbia triangularis
Euphorbia triangularis is a succulent, deciduous, spiny tree, usually with a single trunk and several branches clustered in whorls. It is the most common tree Euphorbia in the Eastern Cape Province. Euphorbia triangularis can be 3, 4 or 5-angled. The 3-angled form occurs more in the Eastern Cape and the 5-angled form in KwaZulu-Natal. As with many other euphorbias the latex sap is toxic and direct contact with it should be avoided. Fortunately they seldom need pruning and their thorns present a formidable barrier. In the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal it is found in river bush thicket, on dry, rocky and clayey slopes of river valleys, in open dry woodland and on coastal dunes. It is a tradition of the Xhosa after the birth and for the protection of twins, to plant a tree outside the hut.
Spekboom, Portulacaria afra
Porkbush, Elephants food Spekboom is an attractive, evergreen succulent shrub or small tree that can reach 2 - 5 m in height. It has small round succulent leaves and red stems. Small star-shaped pink flowers are borne from late winter to spring. They are a rich source of nectar for many insects, which in-turn attracts insectivorous birds. It is found in warm situations on rocky slopes in succulent karoo scrub, thicket, bushveld and dry river valleys in the eastern parts of South Africa from the Eastern Cape northwards into KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province as well as Mozambique. Portulacaria afra is not threatened in its natural habitat. The leaves of the spekboom can be eaten and is heavily browsed by game and domestic stock and highly favoured by tortoises. The spekboom has also been indicated as a soil binder for preventing soil erosion. Traditional uses also include the increasing of breast milk by lactating mothers. The leaves are used to quench thirst, sucking a leaf is used to treat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke. Crushed leaves can be rubbed on blisters and corns on the feet to provide relief. The leaves are chewed as a treatment for sore throat and mouth infections while the astringent juice is used for soothing ailments of the skin such as pimples, rashes and insect stings. The juice is also used as an antiseptic and as a treatment for sunburn.
Sideroxylon inerme is one of South Africa's protected trees and several specimens are provincial heritage sites. This is the only member of the Sideroxylon genus in southern Africa. Milkwood trees are scattered through the coastal forests and is a semi-coastal sturdy broadleaf evergreen tree with dense foliage, displays of white bisexual flowers and edible purplish-black berries. It boasts leathery, spiral leaves, which, like the berries, contain milky latex, traditionally used as a remedy for nightmares. Young branches and new leaves are always covered with fine hairs. The tree can reach 15 m. The milkwood has considerable value in traditional medicine and attracts birds, monkeys and other animals to its flowers and fruits. The milkwood has great significance in South Africa's heritage: The Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay is believed to be 600 years old. The Treaty Tree in Woodstock, Cape Town stood next to the house where in 1806 the Batavian Republic (surrendered Cape Town to the British. The Fingo Milkwood in the Eastern Cape was the location where in 1835 the Fengu people signed a treaty of alliance with the Cape Colony.
Noorsboom, Euphorbia triangularis
Euphorbia triangularis is a succulent, deciduous, spiny tree, usually with a single trunk and several branches clustered in whorls. It is the most common tree Euphorbia in the Eastern Cape Province. Euphorbia triangularis can be 3, 4 or 5-angled. The 3-angled form occurs more in the Eastern Cape and the 5-angled form in KwaZulu-Natal. As with many other euphorbias the latex sap is toxic and direct contact with it should be avoided. Fortunately they seldom need pruning and their thorns present a formidable barrier. In the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal it is found in river bush thicket, on dry, rocky and clayey slopes of river valleys, in open dry woodland and on coastal dunes. It is a tradition of the Xhosa after the birth and for the protection of twins, to plant a tree outside the hut.
Spekboom, Portulacaria afra
Porkbush, Elephants food Spekboom is an attractive, evergreen succulent shrub or small tree that can reach 2 - 5 m in height. It has small round succulent leaves and red stems. Small star-shaped pink flowers are borne from late winter to spring. They are a rich source of nectar for many insects, which in-turn attracts insectivorous birds. It is found in warm situations on rocky slopes in succulent karoo scrub, thicket, bushveld and dry river valleys in the eastern parts of South Africa from the Eastern Cape northwards into KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province as well as Mozambique. Portulacaria afra is not threatened in its natural habitat. The leaves of the spekboom can be eaten and is heavily browsed by game and domestic stock and highly favoured by tortoises. The spekboom has also been indicated as a soil binder for preventing soil erosion. Traditional uses also include the increasing of breast milk by lactating mothers. The leaves are used to quench thirst, sucking a leaf is used to treat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke. Crushed leaves can be rubbed on blisters and corns on the feet to provide relief. The leaves are chewed as a treatment for sore throat and mouth infections while the astringent juice is used for soothing ailments of the skin such as pimples, rashes and insect stings. The juice is also used as an antiseptic and as a treatment for sunburn.