Tamboti

Spirostachys africana

  • Bark: Black block shaped – chocolate colour
  • Often in “forests”
  • Leaves: 2 glands at the junction with the petiole -black tips
  • Copious milky latex which is poisonous and causes extreme irritation to sensitive skin and severe pain to eyes, causes inflammation in open wounds
  • Africans use it as a fish poison and to tip arrow heads – It is a narcotic
  • Can’t use the wood for fire, it burns a sweetish odour which causes headache and nausea and taints food
  • Effects on insects are so unpleasant to them that pieces of wood placed among clothes serves as a repellent
  • Small amounts can be used as a treatment for boils and a decoction of the roots can be used as a cure for eye complaints, a remedy for stomach ulcers and toothache
  • Can’t use the wood to make ox-yokes as it causes burn-like sores on the animals neck
  • Seeds become infested with the larvae of the grey moth which by straightening its body causes the seeds to spring into the air – jumping bean tree
  • Porcupines and cane rats eat bark, therefore the eaten areas often catch alight first during veld fires causing the hollowed out chimney effect of these trees.
  • Flowers produce a nectar to attract monkeys and sun-birds and are even eaten by buffalo
Reptiles

Reptiles

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Mammals

Mammals

Aardvark (Antbear) Chacma Baboon Lesser Bushbaby Thick-tailed Bushbaby Dassie (Hyrax) Caracal...

Grasses

Grasses

Croceras macrum Andropogon gayanus Andropogon chinensis Aristida adscensionis Aristida cangesta...

White Seringa

White Seringa

Witsering - Kirkia acuminata Wood is prized for crafting bowls, spoons and items of furniture...

White Resin Tree

White Resin Tree

Witharpuisboom - Ozoroa engleri Distinctive, drooping branches and leaves Contains a considerable...

Weeping Wattle

Weeping Wattle

Huilbbom - Peltophorum africanum Leaves are good as toilet paper Spittle beetle (frog hopper)...

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