​Jeanne Gouws is a freshwater ecologist working for Cape Nature, based in the Western Cape. She regularly visits the Grootvadersbosch cConservancy to do freshwater monitoring in multiple river sites. She captures macro invertebrates to determine the health and other aspects of the river systems. I asked Jeanne what her favorite tree is, and she said without hesitation: “The fever tree is beautiful, and it is my favorite.” 

​The tree is not found naturally in the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy or in the Western Cape but is a renowned feature in the lowveld of South Africa (Plant ZA). The fever tree occurs in spaces where underground water is present, or surface water accumulates, after summer rains (Plant ZA), also in low-lying swampy areas, along rivers. This sounds just like where our freshwater ecologist spends most of her time! The tree can be found from Kenya in the north to KwaZulu-Natal in the South. It is a very beautiful South African tree and, although it is not found here, because it is “Jeanne’s tree”, we are highlighting it anyway.

​The fever tree or Koorsboom (Vachellia xanthophloea) is a striking tree. The most interesting trait of the tree is the lime green to greenish-yellow, smooth bark. It is coated with a yellow-green, powdery substance which comes away when you rub it with your finger. The flowers are bright yellow and have a sweet scent (Plant ZA). The pods are flat with thin valves, yellowish brown to brown, slightly constricted between the seeds, hairless and somewhat straight (Van Wyk and van Wyk.,2013). The fever tree has lengthy straight white thorns which are gathered in pairs. The thorns differ from young trees to older ones. The thorns aid as a defense mechanism against herbivore predation (Milewski., et. al 1991). 

The name has an interesting origin. Early settlers thought that this tree caused fevers since people traveling or living in the areas where it grew contracted fevers. However, the fever tree grows in swampy areas that is ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carried malaria so it was this myth that linked this tree to fever and hence the name “fever tree”.
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The tree provides food and protection for many animals. Birds like to build their nest in the tree because the thorns give them extra protection against predators. Elephants munch on the branches, giraffes and monkeys eat the pods, grey louries eat the flowers, baboons eat the gum and green seeds of the tree. Bees are also drawn to the yellow-colored flowers and the sweet scent. The tree provides a home for ants that are housed in the swollen thorns of the fever tree (Isbell., et. al 2013).

The tree has multiple uses for humans too. The wood is hard and suitable for Timber. The bark of the tree is used as raw material in traditional medicine (Kotina et al, 2016). The bark is used for fever and eye problems (Plant ZA). The tree provides lovely shade for humans and other plants growing beneath or around it. A lovely garden tree.
Finally, this plant plays a vital role in the nitrogen enrichment of soils, and this has a positive impact on the growth of other plants growing near it. The reason for this is because the tree has root nodules that contain nitrogen fixing bacteria.

This is a very interesting tree indeed and we can see why Jeanne loves this tree. Truly special!

​Stay tuned for our next tree!

References

http://pza.sanbi.org/vachellia-xanthophloea

Isbell, L.A., Rothman, J.M., Young, P.J. and Rudolph, K., 2013. Nutritional benefits of Crematogaster
    mimosae ants and Acacia drepanolobium gum for patas monkeys and vervets in Laikipia,
    Kenya. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 150(2), pp.286-300.

Kotina, E.L., Tilney, P.M., and van Wyk, B.E., 2016. Identification of South African medicinal
    barks. Planta Medica, 82(S 01), p.P222.

Milewski, A.V., Young, T.P. and Madden, D., 1991. Thorns as induced defenses: experimental
    evidence. Oecologia, 86(1), pp.70-75.

Van Wyk, B., 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Penguin Random House South Africa.

​​Common names:Tree-fuchsia. notsung

​The tree-fuchsia is usually a shrub or a small tree that occurs in the forest areas or grassland. It often grows along streams or in rocky places (Van Wyk.,2013). Ricardo Januarie our alien clearing project manager at the conservancy speaks about his favourite tree and says, “Oh I love this tree because of all the different kinds of birds that it attracts and its shape when fully grown”. The tree-fuchsia has these bright orange flowers which attract nectar feeding birds. Bees and other insects are also seen feeding on its flowers.”

​This tree flowers from May to December (Autumn to summer). The flowers are small in red clusters.  Sunbirds (except the greater double collared sunbird) and sugarbirds usually feeds on the nectar of the flowers (Stirton.,1977). 

The tree has a fleshy fruit (Adedapo et., al.2008) and these turn black when they ripen. The fruit is edible but not appetizing (Van Wyk.,2013). Times for fruiting is August until January (Plantbook.co.za).

Various parts of the fruit are used in traditional medicine. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties in both the leaves and stems (Adelapo et., al.2008). Halleria lucida is used by Zulu tribes to treat skin and ear difficulties. It was traditionally used by the Zulu tribes in the following way - the leaves were dried and then soaked in water and then squeezed into the ear to relieve pain. The tree is also considered a charm against evil (Adelapo et., al.2008). The leaves can be eaten by livestock, including wild animals such as Eland (Adelapo et., al 2008).

​The wood is hard enough to make panga handles with (Trees SA) and is a good container plant and is low maintenance when growing in a garden (Trees SA). Look out for this amazing indigenous tree in your local nursery.
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Stay tuned for other exciting trees.

References.

Adedapo, A.A., Jimoh, F.O., Koduru, S., Masika, P.J. and Afolayan, A.J., 2008. Evaluation of the
      medicinal potentials of the methanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Halleria
      lucida. Bioresource technology, 99(10), pp.4158-4163.

http://pza.sanbi.org/halleria-lucida

http://treesa.org/halleria-lucida/

Stirton, C.H., 1977. A note on the flowers of Halleria lucida. Bothalia, 12(2), pp.223-224.
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Van Wyk, B., 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Penguin Random House South Africa.

​Rothmannia capensis (witklokke) is a small or medium tree occurring in the forest or on Rocky Hillsides in bushveld. The tree is of the family, Rubiaceae (the coffee family), states Van Wyk (2013).

“The reason I love this tree is because of its growth form and the way it grows very straight. The flowers are also beautiful, and the tree is very thick. I find its shade of green absolutely glorious” says Oom Twakkie. Oom Twakkie (Goliath Highburg) is our quality controller and our "go-to" person for species identification. He calls this tree katjiepiering or wild gardenia which are some of its common names. “The gorgeous flowers almost look like the ones from a granadilla bush” adds Ricardo, our project manager.

​Rothmannia capensis is usually distributed from Limpopo in the North to the Western Cape. It is found in forest, kloofs and on rocky edges from sea level up to about 1600 m. The flowers are white with maroon strips inside the throat of the corolla tube, fading to cream with green fruit that is about 70 mm in diameter (Van Wyk., 2013). The flowers have a strong scent and are extremely attractive to the eye.

The plant is called omkhulu in the Zulu tradition (Kelmanson et.al, 2000).The juice from it can be rubbed on burns and wounds to help them heal. Interestingly, the wounded parts of burns can be held in the smoke of burning roots. Baboons eat the green, ripe, fruits from the trees, while bushbuck and bush pigs eat the fruit that falls off the trees. The tree also attracts birds, and it acts as a nice garden tree. The wood of the tree is hard and strong and suitable for making implementing instrument handles (Sanbi and Van Wyk .2013). The wood can also be used to make strong spoons for cooking and porridge sticks and the dry wood is used for fire.
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The tree grows well in light shade or full sun and is simple to grow from the seed. It grows in loamy soil. You can take out the seed from the brown fruit and spread them in a mix of 3 parts river sand to 1 part compost. Keep the seed mix moist until germination, which is generally 14 days.

There are several Rothmania species but when I see them, I am always hoping to see this specific one in the indigenous forest.  According to Oom Twakkie, the last time he saw it was in February 2021, but he is hoping to see it again soon. He smiles when he says that the wild gardenia tree is found quite commonly in the conservancy forests. As a newcomer to the area, I have not yet had a chance to see this lovely tree but I’m now on a hunt to see Oom Twakkie’s favourite tree in our special forest.

What’s your favourite indigenous tree? Leave a comment below and share your favourite tree and why.
 
References

http://pza.sanbi.org/rothmannia-capensis

Kelmanson, J.E., Jäger, A.K. and van Staden, J., 2000. Zulu medicinal
    plants with antibacterial activity. Journal of
    Ethnopharmacology, 69(3), pp.241-246.

Van Wyk, B., 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Penguin
    Random House South Africa.
 
 

Maytenus acuminate occurs from the Zambezi River to the Western Cape. It is wide spread in the our conservancy with many young trees in our nursery. The name acuminate refers to the tapering point of the leaves. You can plant this tree in full sunlight or light shade. If you want to plant this tree from seed, collect the seeds when the capsules when they are splitting and revealing the orange fruit. You can remove the soft aril by washing the fruit in clean water. The remaining seed is small and should, preferably, be sown when fresh and during the warm summer months when the plant is in active growth. You can use well rotten compost to ensure good growth. The species can also be propagated from cuttings but take the cutting in the spring.

​"This is my favourite tree as it’s a beautiful garden plant and has lovely, reddish brown bark." says Zaniel. "When I came for my interview at the gvb office, this was the first tree that Oom Twakkie (Goliath Highburg) showed me. It caught my attention. I was fascinated by the elastic threads on the broken leaf and I now instantly know what tree it is. Crazy interesting." ​

​References

http://pza.sanbi.org/maytenus-acuminata-var-acuminata-silky-showers
Van Wyk, B., 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Penguin Random House South Africa.

This week, ​in our nursery we reported Kiggelaria Africana (wild peach). Kiggelaria Africana is a medium sized tree and occurs in the forest wooded riverine or on rocky outcrops and grassland. The wild peach is a well-known tree on the conservancy and Goliaith Highburg (Oom Twakkie) usually plants it successfully from seed. It grows very well in the bags he has in the nursery. 

On the conservancy, Oom Twakkie obtains seeds and plants them in pots or bags with compost with the sprayers to water them in the nursery. The fruit is round, yellowish green and covered with hairs. The seeds are black, with a bright red orange covering and yellowish green flowers. An interesting fact is that bats are the main pollinators of this tree. It thrives on the edges of forests and is often encountered in kloofs and rocky outcrops of grass-covered mountain slopes. It is found between moist slopes above the Riversdale coastal plain and areas like Zuurberg that experience mostly summer rainfall. 

''It's one of my favorite trees" says Aileen Anderson, the manager of our conservancy. And indeed the wildpeach tree that stands on her deck is magnificent, with round balls and bright orange seeds inside. The tree sits above the best celphone reception for Aileen's office so this wise tree has overheard many interesting conservancy-related conversations. The birds also love it and so Aileen's deck is always filled with busy birds.

This beautiful tree is named after Franz Kiggelaer and the Latin word africana means "​comes from Africa".The hardish pink-brown wood can be used for timber (furniture). It was also once used for the wagon spokes of ox wagon wheels. Some people believe that touching this tree will attract lightning. In South Sotho culture, medicince is made from it to protect kraals. The fruit is also toxic and used for traditional medicine such as skin problems. An extract of the bark can be used for treating sores and wounds and the seeds were eaten during famine. What a useful tree!

Oom Twakkie says that you just plant the seeds into your compost soil and they grow. Young trees grow fast as observed in the nursery and they flower from about two years old. It forms a good windbreak for your property. When you plant the trees, Omm Twakkie recommends using moderate amount of water and a place in the sun. Another tip is to add your compost to the soil when planting and the tree grows in both winter as well as summer rainfall. This tree attracts birds and butterflies .This lovely pioneer plant will also feed your honeybees. Wow...What an amazing tree!

​We are lucky to have this species here on our conservancy.

​References:  http://pza.sanbi.org/kiggelaria-africana
                     Van Wyk, B., 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Penguin Random House South Africa.
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