Limpopo Fauna and Flora

Witsering - Kirkia acuminata Wood is prized for crafting bowls, spoons and items of furniture (wood is easily worked) Crushed roots are a remedy for toothache Roots provide relief from thirst, as they become swollen with stored liquid, when ater isn't readily...

Witharpuisboom - Ozoroa engleri Distinctive, drooping branches and leaves Contains a considerable amount of yellowish resin, hence the common name Twigs and young shoots are eaten by smaller antelope as well as kudu and elephant Flowers are sweet smelling as are the...

Huilbbom - Peltophorum africanum Leaves are good as toilet paper Spittle beetle (frog hopper) pierces the tree with its sucking mouth-parts and rapidly feeds on the sap, from which it filters out the sugars and nutrients and secretes the excess water as a frothy...

Huilboerboon - Schotia brachypetala Often found on termite mounds Produce copious nectar, which attracts a wide range of animals, but seldom bees. Pollination is left to sun-birds Seed dispersal mainly by Grey Lourie and Meyers Parrot Seeds edible after roasting, they...

Waterbessie - Syzigium cordatum Water loving, evergreen tree Crushed bark strewn on water is and effective long-acting fish poison that has no toxic effects on warm blooded animals Used in traditional medicine

Kandelaarboom - Euphorbia cooperi Given a wide berth by most animals Wood is fibrous and useless and stems spiny Latex from the tree is highly toxic - even breathing in the "fumes" of the latex produces a burning sensation in the bronchial passages

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...

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...

Gewone trosvy - Ficus sycomorus It has a fig wasp Fruits found on the stem are rich and juicy - eaten by rhino, warthogs, monkeys, baboons antelope and birds In the past the soft wood was used as a friction base for fire starting Buttress roots are common therefore...

Sambokpeul - Cassia abbreviata Brilliant yellow flowers Edible seeds, popular with monkeys and baboons Bark used widely in traditional medicine for the treatment of skin ailments, particularly abscesses Extracts of the roots are proven cure for bilharzia and...

Vaalbos - Terminalia sericea Roots used to cure diarrhea, relieve colic and as an eyewash Outer layer of roots - hot diffusion used to cure pneumonia The silky silvery leaf hairs are used by Tswana potters, as a glaze Put a stick into the floor of a shrine in homage...

Dichrostachys cinerea Pink and yellow flower Pioneer tree species, often occurs on disturbed veld Pods and leaves utilized by game Roots are chewed and placed on snake-bites and scorpion stings Leaves have anesthetic qualities and are used as a remedy for sore eyes...

Witgat - Boscia albitrunca One of the most utilized trees of the bushveld Exploited by many browsers for palatable and highly nutritious twigs and foilage Used as cattle fodder by farmers Wood is used for traditional household implements Roasted roots produce a...

Lekkerruikpeul -Acacia nilotica Thorns are in pairs that slant backwards Seed pods look like a string of beads, they don't burst open but break into segments when they fall to the ground Strong smelling pods - they have a sweet smell - like apples Bark and pods rich...

Worsboom - Kigelia africana Bright red flowers, with a terrible smell Bats are thought to be the main pollinators Fruit weighs up to 10kg Ripe fruits are inedible, but are baked and added to beer to aid fermentation Powdered fruit is used for ulcers and sores and...

Kierieklapper - Combretum hereroense Distinct long straight shoots - "walking sticks" Wood tough, hard and resistant to borers and termites therefore valued for handels of traditional farming implements i.e. hoes, picks and wheel spokes Infusion of roots used as a...

Rooibos - Combretum apiculatum Particular as to where it grows, only on well drained sandy, rocky or gravel soils Leaves are nourishing, particularly the new foliage, it is eaten with relish by antelope as well as elephants & giraffe & cattle Medicinally used...

Peulmahonie - Afzelia quanzensis Grows on well drained soils therefore on rocky hillsides and deep sandy soils of the far north Elephants eat the bark but the tree is mainly utilized by small rodents e.g. squirrels consume the seeds in great quantities, hornbills open...

Njalaboom - Xanthocercis zambesiaca Can grow up to 30m in height with massive bole some 2,5m in diameter Grows on silty soils along riverbanks or on termitaria Utilized by numerous game and birds Insects are drawn to the sweet-smelling, white creamy blooms...

Rooiessenhout - Trichilia emetica In traditional medicine the bark is known for the emetic property suggested by the species name Bark is used as an enema Oil from the seed is said to have great healing powers and is even used in the treatment of broken limbs Research...

Colophospermum mopane Butterfly shaped leaf Very nutritious, favourite food for elephantsSmall cicada-like insects lives on the leaves, the larvae secretes protective waxy scales which are rich in sugars and are well liked by baboons The Emperor moth, lmbrasia belina,...

Mingerhout - Breonadia salicina Excellent timber Normally grows among rocks in river beds, it is thought that these trees can alter river courses It is the tallest tree in the bush veld ( 40m at Punda) Branch with branchlets are used as a whisk

Sclerocarya birrea Bark: patchy-mottled appearance leaves: alternate compound, crowded at the end of branches Fruit: Yellow when mature (Feb-June) Tonga people celebrate feast of the first fruits by pouring a libation of fresh juice over the tombs of dead chiefs &...

Euc/ea divinorum Leaves: margin wavy Fruit: Oct-Dec, edible but not pleasant tasting Fruit use to make purple ink & in the brewing of beer Bark gives off a brown dye Ovambos hang branches of trees at their door as good luck charms Wood is never used as a fuel in...

Sterkbos - Terminalia prunioides Favours calcareous brackish soils and dry stony areas Only flowers after good rains, heavily scented flowers (smells like old wet socks) Called sterkbos because the timber is extremely tough and durable, it is used as tool handles,...

Lebombo-ysterhout - Androstachys johnsonii Tough, dark green leaves, densely hairy below and arranged in symmetrical pairs Linked with Madagascar & Baobabs (breakup of Gondwanaland 160million years ago) Male and female tree occur and are wind pollinated which is...

Hardekool - Combretum imberba Very hard wood - used to make blades for hoes, before metal - excellent firewood, burns slowly Not resisitant to fire, once alight it burns to nothing Ash has high lime content & is used as toothpaste and as a substitute for whitewash...