Torchwood / Green Thorn

Groendoring – Balanities maughamii

  • Young branches have zig-zag appearance, trunk often had distinctive grooves
  • Forked spines ( one usually longer than the other), leaves with 2 leaflets
  • Fruit: Nov-Jan
  • Seeds yield good quality, tasteless oil, that rivals olive oil
  • Oil burns with a bright flame and therefore the dry kernels can be used as torches
  • Fruits are lethal to fish and snails (1 fruit will kill all snails in 301 of water), therefore it is an effective use against bilharzia
  • An emetic is prepared from a decoction of the bark
  • Witch doctors ward off evil spirits with froth made by beating roots and bark together and soaking it in water. The ritual is to lick the froth 3 times a day and throw the remainder over the hut roof so that it spills on the hut entrance
  • A bath taken in an infusion of bark is stimulating and exhilarating
  • Wood is had and of good quality.
Reptiles

Reptiles

Agama Boomslang (Tree Snake) Tree Agama Egyptian Cobra Flap-necked Chameleon Nile Crocodile Common...

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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