USES: USES: Ficus thonningii It is an important tree angolensis The leaves, fruits and Maerua .sp in traditional medicine, seeds of this tree are used used to treat colds, for making sauces, spices sore throats, wounds, and flavouring. For local constipation, nosebleed or traditional medicine it USES: and to stimulate is used as a painkiller for In local lactation. Its bark is arthritis and to treat upset traditional used to make ropes, stomachs, gout, paralysis, medicine, this tree is used its latex is also used to epilepsy and skin disorders. to treat asthma and an upset make products such as rubber and gloves. Fruits from Some african cultures and religions believe it is a tree stomach, sore throats, and this tree can be used to make jam. of magic, and some use it as an aphrodisiac. cold. Leaves are used as wound dressing; roots are peeled GROWING: and crushed and placed in painful F.thonningii grows easily, particularly in areas with GROWING: limbs for relief. Roots are also grounded annual daytime temperatures of between 22˚ -28˚C. It This tree is very ideal for a smaller garden, and can up as a chicory substitute for coffee. can be propagated for beautification, erosion control, easily be propagated from seedlings. M. angolensis shade, shelter and soil improvement. grows quickly and it is a must for a garden if you want Tree Profile Tree Profile to attract butterflies and insect eating birds. Tree Profile However this tree has an aggressive root system, APPEARANCE: FACTS AT A GLANCE and should not be planted in small gardens or near This tree has a spreading, sometimes untidy canopy FACTS AT A GLANCE buildings, swimming pools or paths. Although this tree FACTS AT A GLANCE with semi-deciduous to deciduous leaves. Its interesting grows quickly, it is sensitive to cold winds and young feature is its bark, clearly segmented with shades of light SCIENTIFIC NAME : SCIENTIFIC NAME : must be protected for the first 2-3 years. SCIENTIFIC NAME : to dark grey. The bark peels off, to reveal yellowish- Ficus thonningii Maerua .sp Maerua angolensis orange patches. COMMON NAME : APPEARANCE: COMMON NAME : COMMON NAME : Common wild fig This tree has a spreading canopy as well as an astonishing Bushveld Bead-bean Common bush-cherry Bark SIZE : feature of aerial roots descending to the ground which SIZE : SIZE : Medium to large tree 10m*8m makes it ideal to in communal recreational areas Small to medium tree – up to 10m Shrub or small tree – 2-9m GROWING: WATER REQUIREMENTS : or large gardens. It is a recognisable evergreen with WATER REQUIREMENTS : WATER REQUIREMENTS: The growth rate for this tree is moderate sometimes up to Drought Resistant flowering and fruiting observed for most of the year in Drought Resistant Drought Resistant 40cm per year, with flowering and fruiting beginning in LEAVES/FLOWERS : with the peak period in October. LEAVES/FLOWERS : LEAVES/FLOWERS : three years. Evergreen, simple, glossy dark green leaves; small green, Semi –deciduous to deciduous, alternate leaves; creamy Evergreen, sometimes semi- deciduous, digitally FLOWERS, FRUIT, AND hairy flowers. white flowers compound leaves, dark green and densely packed; This tree can be propagated from seeds, but the plant must LEAVES: FEATURE : FEATURE : Smooth grey bark peels to reveal clustered white flowers. not be kept in a pot for too long as the roots develop quickly, Multistemmed, aerial roots hanging down from the This tree is an evergreen, FEATURE : yellowish-orange patches. it grows best if planted out as soon as possible. branches. withsimple,glossy, Beautiful mottled light grey to dark brown bark MAINTENANCE : It is ideal for a landscape design or mixed border, as well MAINTENANCE : dark green and slightly MAINTENANCE : Low maintenance. as to provide semi or deep shade, and it does well in cold Low maintenance. leathery leaves that take Low maintenance. gardens. an oval shape. Flowers and seeds grow together APPEARANCE: DESCRIPTION in a structure that is a This plant is a shrub or small tree, its flowers are its DESCRIPTION false fruit. most attractive feature, they are white and come in large DESCRIPTION Fruit clusters and can be seen between August and October. ORIGIN: ORIGIN: The blotchy bark is readily noticeable and is light grey to Mainly found in upland ORIGIN: This tree is indigenous to South Africa (S.A) and can be FLOWERS, FRUIT, AND LEAVES: dark brown. forests, open grasslands, Originally indigenous in wooded grasslands, woodlands found in the Southern Cape, and along the Eastern half The leaves are simple, soft and drooping, thinly riverines and rocky areas. and thickets as well as forest edges, rocky areas and of S.A, into Swaziland, and . textured, glossy and dark green with hair. Flowers are This tree occurs naturally from savannahs. Occurs naturally in the Eastern and The common bush cherry can grow in forest fringes, creamy white, sweetly scented and come in clusters. the Eastern Cape in South Northern parts of South Africa, and in , open woodlands to a length of up to 9m, as well as in Fruits come in long slender pods that do not split, they Africa, extending further to the Democratic Republic of , Mozambique, Zimbabwe and . dune bush and rocky areas. Congo and . become brown when matured

References: Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field Guide to Trees Flowers,Fruit and Leaves of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. Flowers,Fruit and Leaves Boon. R. 2010. Pooley’s Trees of Eastern South Africa, A FLOWERS, FRUIT, AND LEAVES: Fruit complete Guide. 2nd Ed. South Africa. The leaves of this tree are alternate, compound, Fruits are attached directly to the stem individually or sometimes semi-deciduous. Flowers are white and come in pairs, sometimes they can be found below the leaves. in large clusters. Fruit is an oval plum like green berry Fruits are round in shape, sometimes with hair and are and it grows on a single stalk, the fruit remains green yellowish-green in colour and turn pinkish when ripe. even when ripe Leaves Leaves References: Bark References: Killick, D.J.B. 1988. Maerua cafra in Flowering Pooley, E. 2005. The complete field guide to trees ECOLOGY: ECOLOGY: ECOLOGY: Plants of South Africa. Vol 50, plate 1988. of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora This tree is an epiphyte, with an aerial root system A shrub or small tree that is readily eaten by game or About a 100 species of this genus are found in Africa Publications. Durban. which encircles, strangles and eliminates the host tree livestock. Its flowers attract various types of insects, and Asia, with about 11 of which occurring in South Palmer, E and Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of Van Wyk, B and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to the and takes over without competition. It’s flowers and which in turn attract insect eating birds. This tree is Africa. This tree attracts various birds and insects, and Southern Africa. Balkema, Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. fruits attract bat species, which also serve the pupose also a host to the butterflies of the Peridae family. it generally hosts larvae of the migratory Cape Town. of dispersing seeds. It also serves as a host to a highly brown veined white butterfly. specialised wasp species, that use the tree for breeding.

trees of the year 2016 NATIONAL ARBOR WEEK 1 - 7 SEPTEMBER