440 S. Afr. J. Bot. 1999, 65(5 & 6): 440-443
20 weeks) of II. humilis and H. deform is (Figure 1G and 1H) were Uses of Colophospermum mopane planted out into trays of vermiculite and kept in the mist house for (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae) by the 12 weeks, after which they were potted in a 2: I mixture of potting soil:sand and transferred to a 70% shadehouse. Numerous individ Vhavenda ual plantlets devel oped from H. albijlos callus after 12 weeks once the callus was placed onto media with growth honnones. It was J. Madzibane and M.J. Potgieter" interesting to note that the shoots fi·om leaf explants of H. albiflos Department of Botany, University of the North. Private Bag X1 106, and H. de.fimnis took longer to reach the hardening-off stage than Sovenga, 0727 Republic of South Africa those from the bulb explants. These plantlets (Figure 1F) were Received 27 Jrme/999: revised 20 September /999 then successfully acclimatised in the same manner as above, which gave a I 00% survival rate. This study focu ssed on the uses of Co/ophospermum mopane Although plantlet (shoot and root) development was slower {mopane) by the Vhavenda. Four villages in fou r districts were for H. albiflos, the number of plantlets produced from adventi sampled with approximately 10 people per village interviewed in a tious shoots and indirectly from callus, was greater than fr om structured and semi-structu red exchange. Known uses include using mopane for timber {in building walls and roofs of traditional bulb cxplan ts of the other two species, thus the regeneration huts), for firewood and in making rope. New uses include both potential dilfered between the three species initiated. The only novel applications such as poles for carports, washing lines and other report about Haemanthus has been that adventitious buds cattle yokes as well as medicinal uses, such as in the treatment of originated from an internal callus-like tissue on the abaxial sur chaffing of the inner thighs, stomach pains, kidney stones etc. fa ce of attached or detached leaves of Haemanthus cinnabarinus Known uses were quantified for the fi rst time. Decaisne (Hall & Tom linson 1973), which has subsequently Keywords: Colophospermum mopane, ethnobotany, been reclassified as Scadoxus cinnabarinus (Decne.) Friis & ethno-medicine, Leguminosae, Vhavenda. Nordal (Snijman 1984). The leaf material also produced far less contamination of the initial explants compared to bulb explants •ro whom correspondence should be addressed. which had a high percentage of contamination (65%}, both exter (e-mail: [email protected]) nal and internal, possibly due to the open nature of the bulb scales and hence their close contact with soil-borne micro-organ Colophospennum mopane (Kirk ex Benth.) Kirk ex-J . Leon. isms. Future in vitro propagation with Haemanthus species (Caesalpinioideae), popularly referred to as mopane is a common shoul d involve a treatment programme of th e stock plant material species in the Northern Province of South Africa. The Vhavenda with a systemic fun gicide before sacrificing the bulbs for tissue call it mupani or muwna1·i. Mopane is a xeric species of savanna culture. Th is may reduce contamination of the bulb ex plants in woodlands. culture, as stronger sterilisation regimes decreased the viability Mopane is widely used in southern Africa fo r timber, firewood and in making rope (Tim berlake 1995). Known uses of mopane of the plant tissue. in South Africa is derived mostly from the works of Watt and 1/aemanthus can, therefore, be successfully propagated by in Breyer-Brandwijk ( 1962), Palmer and Pitm an ( 1972) and vilm methods, although the potential of micropropagation is Liengme ( 1983). Limited information on the use of mopane by restricted by their naturally slow growth and high contamination the Vhavenda is supplied by Mabogo {1990). Our study was con levels when using bulb explants. This system provides a means sequently undertaken not only to extract detailed information tor increasi ng plant numbers which is important for purposes from respondents on known uses but also to elucidate fur ther such as conservati on and horticulture. unknown uses of mopane by the Yhavenda. Quantitative studies was undertaken to establish the extent of use and, therefore, the Acknowledgments conservation status of mopane. To achieve this the length, cir The financial support of the University of Natal Research Fund cumference, thickness (diameter), weight, volume and total and the Foundation for Research and Development is acknowl number of wood utilized for each of the different uses was edged. recorded. The study was undertaken in the Venda region of the northern References area of the Northern Province. Four villages which contained mopane trees or had mopane in close proximity (2 km). were DUPLESSIS. N. & DUNCAN, G.D. 1989. Bulbous plants of Southern randomly selected. Villages that are located in the northern. Africa. Tati:1berg Publishers Ud .. Cape Town. southern, eastern and western regions of Venda were chosen. IIALL ..I.B . & TOMLINSON, P.B. 1973. Natural callus-like tissue pro These four villages include: Mangondi in the Thohoyandou Dis duces vegetative huds on the leaves of the monocotyledon ffaeman trict, Davhana in Vuwani District (Vhuronga region), Tshikuwi thus cimwbarinus Decaisne (Amaryllidaceae). Nature New Biology in Dzanani District and Tshipise in Mutale district (Figure I). 243: 252-255. The study population comprised respondents (n = 40) from all HUTCIIIN GS. A.. HAXTON SCOTT, A.• LEWIS. G.. CUNN ING four vi ll ages. Thus, I 0 people randomly chosen were inter HAM. A. 1996. Zulu Medicinal Plants · An Inventory . University of viewed in each village. Respondents of both sexes ranged in age Natal Press. Pictermarikburg. from 20 years to about 80 years. Data on participants knowledge MU RASI IIGE. T. & SKOOG, f . 1962. II. revised medium for rapid of mopanc was collected by means of a questionnaire and growth and hioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiologia Pl. 15: semi-structured interviews. Measurements (length, circumfer 473-497. ence and diameter) and number of the mopane material used SN IJMAN. D. 1984. A revision of the genus Haemanthus L. (Amarylli were va lidated. Weight was recorded with a commercial daccae). J. S. Afr. Bot. Suppl. Vol. 12. Na tional Botanic Gardens of bathroom scale. Implanted poles used in the construction of huts. South Alri ca. Cape Town. grain stores, holding up washing lines and kraals were measured S. Afr. J. Bot. 1999, 65(5 & 6) 441
Table 1 Measurements for the different uses of mopane. Values indicated are means
Pole uses Length (m) Circumference (m) Diameter (m) Weight (kg) No. of poles used Volume (m3) Fencing 8.10 (thick) 1000 (min) 3.10 (min) 1.65 0. 16 0.05 2.30 (thin) 2500 (max) 7.80 (max) Firewood (per meal) 1.87 0.23 O.G7 7.8 0.006 !Jut construction mof 3.24 0.21 0.065 20 0.22 wall 1.70 0.25 0.08 89 0.76 Grain Store Roof poles 2.32 0.25 0.08 30 0.39 Wall poles (thick) 2.53 0.27 0.09 Wall poles (thin) 1.38 0.18 0.055 60 0.95 r:oundation poles 0.67 0.34 0. 11 16 0.1 Washing line 2. 12 0.24 0.075 0.009 Pestle 1.28 0.22 0.07 6 0.005 Cattle kraal poles 2 10 (H)* 1.73 0.47 0.15 34 (V)* 7.96 Goat kraal poles (or pigsty) 1.65 0.16 0.051 212 0.7 * H - horizontal, V - vertical from ground level. For huts, cattle, goats and pig kraals on ly the keeping down wire fences. This is, however, not a common use. vertical poles were measured. Mopane may or may not be termite resistant dependi ng on its In all the villages mopane was found to be used for the follow preparation. If a mopane branch is lightly burnt before being ing purposes: fencing, firewood, making rope, pestle, in con used for fencing, then the wood/bark becomes termite resistant. struction of traditional huts, kraals and grain stores and as Other plants that are mi xed with mopane for fencing in clude: medicine. Other non-common uses included poles for holding up Combretum imberbe Warwa (mud:wiri), and Androstachysjolm washing lines and grapevines, in the construction of car ports and sonii Prain (nwsimbiri). cattle yokes. No carving of mopane for curios was found in the When constructing a fence vill agers used between 1000 and areas sampled. Villagers indicated that mopane is too difficult to 2500 poles per household. Around residential areas, fencing work with and also the core tended to be spoiled due to heart rot. poles are spaced further apart from one another than in agricul Measurements of the pole size and volume of wood used are tural areas. Villagers indicated that this is to prevent stray ani indicated in Table I. mals from entering their agricultural land and destroying their crops. Fencing Firewood When used for constructing fences it was found that both thick (main stem) and thin (side branches) poles were used. The sizes Mopane provides a good firewood and is the preferred species were due to individual preferences. A fence made from poles for this purpose. It is reported by villagers to burn slowly with harvested between January and April is said to last for about I 2 the remaining coals emitting a lot of heat which is good for long years. The belief is that if it is harvested outside this period it periods of cooking and long, cold winter nights. The ash is used would be less durable. Sometimes mopane branches are used in as fertiliser, although this was found not to be a common prac tice. In a household of eight people, respondents used on average 7.8 kg of firewood (mopane and a mixture of other species) per meal (Table I) and 6.4 cubic metres of wood per person per annum. This means that the overall mean annual consumption of firewood for a family is 2776.8 kg or 2 .7 tonnes. Dichrostachys cineria (L.) Wight & Arn. subsp. africana Brenan & Brummitt (m uren:he), Combretum collinum Fresen. subsp. srt!uense (Engl. & Diets) Okafor (muvuvha) and mopane were indicated by respondents to yield the best fi re. Normally three fires are made during the day for cooking. A fire made for breakfast could last for about five hours. Fi res are also made for warmth. It was found that a lot more wood is used than is really necessary, lead ing to a great amount ot wastage. Although villagers could not quantify the amount, it was indicated that in general more wood is used during the winter months than summer months.
Rope Young mopane trees are used in the making of the mopane rope. When preparing the rope vi llagers break the young stem in half Figure I Map of Venda, showing the sampled villages. I = Man and strip the young outer bark, (rough bark has not yet formed). gond i. 2 = Oavhana, 3 = Tshikuwi. 4 = Tshipise. from the wood. The way the vi llagers prepare the rope leads to S. Afr. J. Bot. 1999, 65(5 & 6) the h.illing of the young trees. It is stored in bundles for later use women were very reluctant to convey their knowledge for fear of ( 1-igure 2) . When the people need to use the rope they soak it being labelled witches. Traditional healers also feared that their m·ernight in cold water. The following morning the rope will be knowledge would be conveyed to cultures/tribes not of their ~o n and cas} to work with. However, if it is needed urgently, it is own. These include treatment of chaffing of inner thighs (mas snah.ed in hot water for about 30 minutes. This speeds up the sof worota), stomach pains. gum bleeding, kidney stones. sores, tening process of the rope. Although the respondents indicated diarrhoea, vomiting and impotence. th,lt mopane rope is still used. it is being replaced by commer cially available ropes. Mopane bark used for: Chaffing of the inner thighs Construction of traditional huts Women travelling long distances chew the young, white, inner bark or the leaves of mopane and then apply the juices on the \ lopanc poles arc usually utilized in the constrlll.:tion of the roof chaffing. They call this application ' uflmlud:a'. This application ing of traditional huts. Rope made from mopane bark is used in is done once per trip and is reported to sooth away the pain. tieing the poles. The roof is then thatched with grass of that area Respondents use this treatment in summer when women suffer and again tied with mopane rope. In rural areas huts were fo und the most from chaffing of the inner thighs due to the high tem in which the wall s were made from mopane stems and side peratures and humidity of the area. It was indicated that the bram:hes. These were then plastered with mud on both sides. Vil lagers indi cated that a traditional hut built entirely from mopane leaves or bark have to be chewed, not ground, so that the leaf/ bark sap can mix with saliva. ClHdd last fi> r about three to seven years. Stomach pains Construction of kraals The outer bark of mopanc is crushed with a stone and then boiled Three t:.pes of kraals are made from mopane, namely cattle, goat in water for approximately 30 minutes. The pained individual and pig kraals. A cattle kraal is usually larger than the other two then drinks the extract and relief of pain is said to take place after l) pt:s or kraals and the pigsty is found to be the least attractively approximately half an hour . con~ tructcd . Vi ll agers indicated that this was due to the social Sores ~ tigma attached to pigs. Sores or 'cancers' are locally called pj11ko. The red inner bark of mopane is boiled for approximately an hour. Then stones that Grain store have been burnt are placed into the pot to release steam or 11 The whole structure can be made from mopane. Depending on aravhedza in order to steam the patient which is covered with a the tunc of harvesting of the wood, the structure can last for up to blanket. The smoke is said to heal the sores. The red inner bark is -1 years. It is believed that the wood has to be harvested between also crushed and applied on the sore. An application of the .January and Apri l to avoid attack by termites. Villagers in Dav crushed bark is called 11 plmpha. Healing of small sores takes hana vil lage indicated that at the beginning of each new season roughly 7-8 days. (September/October) they destroy the older dilapidated grain stores and usc the wood for fir ewood. Mopane root used for: Gum bleeding Pestle Thin secondary roots of mopane are boiled in water and the Ahout 6 kg of mopane wood is used for making a pestle. The vil extract is used as either a mouthwash or drunk as a tea. Roots can lagl!rs rl!port..:d that a pestle made fi·om mopane lasts for up to 15 also be crushed, mixed with soft porridge and eaten. ) cars due to the removal of the bark. It is believed that this Kidney stones rcdul:CS its chances of being attacked by termites. Young mopane roots are boiled in water and the extract is taken 3-4 times a day. Traditional healers indicated that the patient Medicinal uses should start to show an improvement after 4- 7 days. A It hough several medicinal uses of mopane were recorded, Diarrhoea and vomiting Thin roots of mopane are boiled. The water is all owed to cool and the extract given orally on a daily basis to babies to stop diarrhoea and vomiting. Impotence In treating impotence young roots of mopane are mixed with Wrigthia natalensis Stapf (muSIIIIZi). Securidaca longependiiiiCII Iata Fresen. (mpesu) and mulshalimela (scientific name unknown). The roots of these plants are soaked overnight and the extract is taken 3-4 times a day. The dry roots can also be ground into a powder and mixed with alcohol, water or soft porridge. The patient is instructed to drink this mixture on a weekly basis. Veterinary uses Young secondary roots of mopane are boiled in water and allowed to cool. The extract is then given orally to cattle on a daily basis to treat swollen limbs. The treatment becomes effective after three days.
Conservation management practices Figur~ 2 ·\ hundlt: or rope made from mopane. Scale bar = 20 It was found that generally, but not in all cases, the traditional 111111. leaders of the surveyed areas do practice some form of S. Afr. J. Bot. 1999, 65(5 & 6):443 -445 conservation management. Villagers under his contro l have to Research foundation and the University of the North arc thanked ask permission before collecting wood for building roofs. kraals for their respective contributions. etc. from the mopane veld . In the collection of firewood (fallen dry dead wood) no permission is necessary. It wns noticed that References the younger generation of vill agers tended to ignore to an extent Fl JRNESS. C.K. I 'JS I. Sntm: w;pecls of fud-\\"ootlusag.: n~t t mp the advice and leadership of the elders of thei r respective areas. It tion in Afr ican rural and urban areas in / imhabwc/Rhntlc ~ ia S If•· was. furthermore. found that very litt le information is carried For. .1. 11 7: (0- 12. over from one generation to the next. LIEN( iME. C.A. 19l!3. A ~llu.l ~ t>f\\notlttse li1r fut!l and htuldmg. ttl .111 ,\!though a total mopanc culture does not really exist in the an:a offi;vankulu. 1/utlw/ia l-l(2l: 2-1 5- 25S. Venda region as is comm on in Zimbabwe and Botswana. MABOGO. D.E.N. l')l)O. The E t hnobntan~ of tht: VhaVentla \ 1 <;c mopanc sti ll makes a big contribution to the daily lives of the Th.:sis. t lnil't:rsity of Pretoria. Pretoria. \'havenda in terms of medicine. tirewood and bu ilding material. PALMER. E. & P!Ti\·1AN. N. 1972. Tn.:l!s of Snttlhem Alr1ca \'nl , I& It is speculated that the reason for chewing and not grinding 2. A .A. Balkcma. Cape "[\mn. 1 the leaves of mopanc before applyi ng it to areas of chaffing, PRI OR . .1 . & Cl!TI. ER. D. I J