Cassine peragua

Last updated

Cape saffron
Cassine peragua Cape Saffron Tree in flower South Africa 9.JPG
In flower in a Cape Town garden
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Cassine
Species:
C. peragua
Binomial name
Cassine peragua
L.
Synonyms
  • Cassine colpoon Thunb.
  • Cassine kraussiana Hochst.
  • Cassine kraussiana Bernh. ex Harv. & Sond.
  • Cassine kraussiana Bernh.
  • Cassine serratifolia Salisb.
  • Cassine sphaerocarpa Cels ex Steud.
  • Elaeodendron ilicifolium Ten.
  • Elaeodendron kraussianum (Bernard ex Harv. & Sond.) Sim
  • Euonymus colpoon L.

Cassine peragua, also known as Cape saffron, bastard saffron and forest spoonwood, is a medium-sized tree with fragrant flowers, decorative fruits and a saffron-coloured trunk. It is indigenous to the Afro-montane forests of South Africa. [2]

Contents

Appearance

Cape saffron is an evergreen tree which is usually around 2 to 5 meters in height, but can sometimes grow to 15 meters in the right conditions. The tough, round, leathery leaves are usually dark green, but can be copper, orange or scarlet coloured depending on growth.

The bunches of small, bisexual flowers have a strong, but pleasant fragrance, and the fruits are berries that appear as green and then gradually darken to purple and black.

The trunk eventually assumes an orange saffron colour, as the grey bark flakes off exposing the orange under-layer.

Natural distribution

It is naturally distributed throughout the southern and eastern parts of South Africa, including Eswatini. Here it grows in a wide variety of habitats, from deep Afromontane forest to coastal dunes and rocky mountain slopes. In addition to the most common and widespread subspecies, there are two rare dwarfed subspecies (subsp. barbara & affinis) which occur in restricted pockets in the Western Cape. [2]

It is now cultivated as an ornamental garden tree throughout South Africa.

Human usage

Cape saffron as a garden subject Cape Saffron tree - Cassine peragua - Cape Town Kirstenbosch.JPG
Cape saffron as a garden subject
A wild specimen with its distinctive saffron-coloured trunk Cassine peragua trunk - Newlands Forest - Cape Town.jpg
A wild specimen with its distinctive saffron-coloured trunk

Cape saffron has been used locally for centuries for its beautiful, hard wood, which assumes a yellowish-orange colour and was traditionally valued for furniture. [2]

Its more common use now is as an attractive ornamental feature in gardens. It grows slowly, but is very tough and resistant to wind. In exposed positions, in direct sun or wind, it will tend to grow shorter, lower and denser. It forms an attractive, domed shape, with a saffron-coloured trunk and often multi-coloured foliage.

The fruits attract great numbers of birds, and the flowers have a pleasant fragrance. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Podocarpus latifolius</i> Species of conifer

Podocarpus latifolius is a large evergreen tree up to 35 m high and 3 m trunk diameter, in the conifer family Podocarpaceae; it is the type species of the genus Podocarpus.

<i>Curtisia</i> Genus of trees

Curtisia dentata is a flowering tree from Southern Africa. It is the sole species in genus Curtisia, which was originally classed as a type of "dogwood" (Cornaceae), but is now placed in its own unique family Curtisiaceae.

<i>Stewartia pseudocamellia</i> Species of flowering plant

Stewartia pseudocamellia, also known as Korean stewartia, Japanese stewartia, or deciduous camellia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Theaceae, native to Japan and Korea.

<i>Heritiera littoralis</i> Species of mangrove tree in the family Malvaceae

Heritiera littoralis, commonly known as the looking-glass mangrove or tulip mangrove, is a mangrove tree in the family Malvaceae native to coastal areas of eastern Africa, Asia, Melanesia and northern Australia. The common name refers to the silvery appearance of the underside of the leaves, resembling a mirror to some degree. The strong timber has uses in marine applications and elsewhere.

<i>Podocarpus henkelii</i> Species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae

Podocarpus henkelii is a South African species of conifer in the family Podocarpaceae. It is grown ornamentally in gardens for its strikingly neat, attractive form and its elegant, drooping foliage.

<i>Wodyetia</i> Genus of palms

Wodyetia bifurcata, the foxtail palm, is a species of palm in the family Arecaceae, native to Queensland, Australia. It is the sole species in the genus Wodyetia.

<i>Phaleria clerodendron</i> Species of plant in the family Thymelaeaceae endemic to Queensland

Phaleria clerodendron, commonly known as scented daphne, scented phaleria or rosy apple, is an evergreen tree or tall shrub in the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia.

<i>Albizia adianthifolia</i> Species of legume

Albizia adianthifolia is a tree in the family Fabaceae. It is commonly known as the flat-crown. Its range extends from eastern South Africa to Tropical Africa.

<i>Asparagus scandens</i> Species of vine

Asparagus scandens, is a plant native to South Africa in the genus Asparagus.

<i>Cunonia capensis</i> Species of tree

Cunonia capensis, the butterspoon tree, butterknife tree, African red alder, red alder or rooiels, is a small tree found in the afromontane forests of southern Africa, and along rivers. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens for its attractive glossy foliage and its clusters of tiny, scented, white flowers. It is the only one of 24 species of Cunonia to occur outside of New Caledonia in the Pacific.

<i>Diospyros whyteana</i> Species of tree

Diospyros whyteana is a small African tree of the ebony family. Bearing dark green, strikingly glossy leaves and creamy fragrant flowers, it is increasingly cultivated in Southern African gardens as an attractive and strong ornamental tree. It can attain a height of up to 6 m.

<i>Kiggelaria</i> Genus of trees

Kiggelaria africana is a large, robust, low-branching African tree, and is currently the only accepted species in the genus Kiggelaria.

<i>Halleria lucida</i> Species of tree

Halleria lucida is a small, attractive, evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southern Africa. It is increasingly grown as an ornamental tree in African gardens.

<i>Olinia ventosa</i> Species of tree

Olinia ventosa, commonly known as the hard-pear. is a large, evergreen forest tree indigenous to South Africa.

<i>Maytenus oleoides</i> Species of tree

Maytenus oleoides, commonly known as the mountain maytenus or rock false candlewood, is a dense, medium-sized tree that grows throughout the western half of South Africa. It is known as klipkershout in Afrikaans.

<i>Canthium inerme</i> Species of tree

Canthium inerme (Turkey-berry) is a tough, adaptable medium-sized tree from South Africa. It bears small edible fruits and has a variety of uses in traditional medicine.

<i>Rhoicissus tomentosa</i> Species of grapevine

Rhoicissus tomentosa is a vigorous, evergreen vine that is indigenous to the afro-montane forests of southern Africa. It is increasingly popular as an ornamental creeper in gardens, and it has a wide range of uses in traditional medicine.

<i>Cassine</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Cassine is a genus of trees, of the plant family Celastraceae.

<i>Agathosma gonaquensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Agathosma gonaquensis is a species of plant in the family Rutaceae. Its habitat is restricted to a tiny area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute, it is critically endangered.

<i>Elaeodendron melanocarpum</i> Species of tree

Elaeodendron melanocarpum is a species of shrubs or small trees endemic to northern Australia. The natural range extends from The Kimberley across The Top End to Cape York Peninsula and southwards to South East Queensland. The species occurs in monsoon forest and drier types of rainforests, commonly along streams.

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Cassine peragua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T147140686A147140688. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147140686A147140688.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cassine peragua L." (Online information website). PlantZAfrica.com: The site for information about plants native to southern Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Retrieved 16 May 2013.