See the (indigenous) wood for the trees this Arbor Week
Cape Environment, Newsletter of WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) – Western Cape Region, Issue 3 – August 2011
It is National Arbor Week from 1 – 7 September, however it is important to note that this is not the best time to be planting trees in the Western Cape considering the dry Summer months, which will require additional watering to ensure that newly-planted trees survive and become well established, are still ahead.
The tree of the year for 2011 is Pappea capensis
Family: Sapindaceae (litchi or soap-berry family).
Common names: Jacket Plum, Indaba tree, bushveld cherry (Eng.); dopprium (Afr.); iliTye, umGqalutye (Xhosa).
Pappea capensis is a long-lived, hardy, evergreen, small to medium tree with a height of 2-8m. It grows at a moderate rate but is slow-growing under dry and/or cold conditions. It is useful as a street tree or for shade in parking lots as it does not have an aggressive root system. The delicious and very juicy fruit with a tart flavour is used to make preserve, jelly, vinegar and an alcoholic drink. Fragrant, non-drying golden yellow oil is extracted from the roasted seeds. It is also used as a purgative and for lubrication, as a cure for ringworm, to restore hair, as well as for making soap. Leaves, bar and the oil extracted from the seed are used medicinally against baldness, nosebleeds, chest complaints, eye infections, and venereal disease. The root is used orally or as an enema.
Further information on Pappea capensis may be found at www.plantzafrica.com but note that neither this species nor the two secondary trees of the year are indigenous to the Western Cape, so if you are looking to plant a tree (during our wet season) rather select an indigenous tree that is well adapted to your local environment.
