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TREES OF THE YEAR 2001 |
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 Common Tree: Sneezewood
National Tree Number:
Botanical name: Ptaeroxylon obliquum
Other names: Nieshout, umThathi (Xhosa)
Description:
Plants are easily identified by opposite leaves,
with three to eight pairs of dark green leaflets, including a terminal
pair at the end of the leaf. Leaflets are distinctly asymmetrical
in shape. Flowers are small, sweetly scented, white and produced
from August to December. Male and female flowers occur on different
trees. The fruit is an oblong capsule, notched at the tip and split
open to produce winged seeds.
A large tree of up to 20m; variable in habitat,
size and colour (small in low bushveld; large in mistbelt mountain
forests; also occurs in coastal and sand forests).
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Photograph: Pitta Joffe
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General:
Ptaeroxylon is a direct Greek translation meaning sneeze and
wood; obliquum refer to the oblique leaflets.
A small genus with only one species. Until recently
this and the Madagascar Cedrelopsis were placed in a family of their
own, Ptaeroxylaceae, but DNA sequences and chemical evidence leave
little doubt that this belongs to the large citrus family Rutaceae.
Noteworthy, the Common Citrus Swallowtail butterfly Papilio demodocus
is known to visit and breed on this tree. Other indigenous trees
in the family recommended for the garden are the Cape-chestnut,
white-ironwood and the small knobwood.
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Uses:
Sneezewood is extremely hard and durable and highly valued as a
timber for fence post and buildings. Little furniture was ever made
of it, but with some effort and preparation beautiful pieces can
be made.
Highly irritant aromatic peppery oils, containing
nieshoutol are produced, causing violent sneezing by woodworkers
after sawing or sanding.
When used as machine bearings Sneezewood often wears
longer than brass or iron. In Mozambique it is the preferred wood
for the manufacture of xylophone keys.
Distribution:
The distribution of this species extends to tropical Africa.
Cultivation:
Seed, if not damaged by insects, is easy to germinate. A moderate to fast grower (0.4 to 1 m per year). It will withstand moderate frost and is very drought-tolerant.
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Rare Tree: Tarwood
National Tree Number:
365
Botanical name: Loxostylis alata A.Spreng.
Other names: Teerhout, Tierhout, Wild Pepper Tree
Description:
Plants are evergreen ornamental trees with a wide range of ecological
and cultural requirements. Up to 5cm in height. This tree closely
resembles the Brazilian pepper tree, Schinus terebinthifolius
of the same family, which does not have the characteristic red
sepals.
The leaves are alternate and compound with 2 to
5 pairs of leaflets, including a terminal leaflet. Typical of the
species is the conspicuous winged rachis. Young leaves are red.
The flowers are male or female, on different trees and produced
from November to February. The male flowers are white and the female
flowers are green. Sepals of the female flowers enlarge substantially
and turn pink-red, covering the developing fruit. The bark is light
grey, flaking with vertical fissures.
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Photograph: Pitta Joffe
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General:
The name Loxostylis is derived from the Greek loxos
meaning crooked or oblique, and the Latin stylis for style,
in reference to the lateral attachment of the style to the ovary.
The common name tarwood presumably refers to the oily residue from
fruits that has probably been used or compared to the pioneers’
wagon grease. The genus Loxostylis conatins a single species
that occurs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal only. Other recommended
trees in this family are the red currant, wild-plum and the marula.
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Uses:
The leaves and bark are used for medicinal purposes. It is good
species to plant in gardens because it is attractive, fast-growing
and not too large.
Distribution:
Occurs on rocky outcrops and cliffs of sandstone and quartzite.
It is also found along forest margins and along river banks. The distribution
area is along the east coast (Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) adjoining
the Karoo.
Cultivation:
Seeds germinate easily but often transplant poorly. It is a fast growing tree and will tolerate mild frost.
Related indigenous trees
Vepris undulata (White-ironwood)
Calodendrum capense (Cape-chestnut)
Zanthoxylum capense (Small knobwood)
Harpephyllum caffrum (Wild-plum)
Rhus chirindensis (Red Currant)
Sclerocarya birrea (Marula)
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