Sideroxylon inerme

Last updated

Sideroxylon inerme
Sideroxylon inerme - Milkwood - Cape Town 6.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Sideroxylon
Species:
S. inerme
Binomial name
Sideroxylon inerme
L. (1753)
Synonyms [1]
  • Roemeria inermis(L.) Thunb. (1798)
  • Calvaria inermis(L.) Dubard (1912)

Sideroxylon inerme (aMasethole or white milkwood, Afrikaans : wit-melkhout, Xhosa : Ximafana, Zulu : Umakhwelafingqane) [2] is a southern and eastern African coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, foetid, greenish flowers. The tree's generic name means "Iron-wood" in Greek, referring to its very hard timber.

Contents

It is one of South Africa's "Protected Trees" and several specimens are provincial heritage sites. [3] This is the only member of the genus Sideroxylon in Southern Africa.

Distribution

Cape milkwood trees in typical coastal habitat Sideroxylon inerme South African Milkwood habit IMG 4863.JPG
Cape milkwood trees in typical coastal habitat

Sideroxylon inerme trees are scattered through the coastal woodlands and littoral forests of southern and eastern Africa, from the Cape Provinces of South Africa in the south to Somalia in the north, and on Aldabra, the Comoro Islands, and the Mozambique Channel Islands in the western Indian Ocean. [1] Historically, dense forests of large milkwood trees used to exist along the coast and bays of Cape Town, especially at Noordhoek, Macassar and Gordons Bay. The milkwood is not endangered but it is one of South Africa's Protected Trees, which means that it is illegal to damage, move or destroy them. [3]

Description

Sideroxylon inerme is a semi-coastal sturdy broadleaf evergreen tree with dense foliage, displays of white bisexual flowers and edible purplish-black berries. It boasts leathery, spiral leaves, which, like the berries, contain milky latex. Young branches and new leaves are always covered with fine hairs. The tree can reach 15 m.[ citation needed ]

The milkwood has considerable value in traditional medicine and attracts birds, monkeys and other animals to its flowers and fruits : Speckled mousebirds eat the flowers ; birds, bats, monkeys and bush pigs eat the fruit. It is also an effective firebreak and is cultivated for that purpose. [3]

Subspecies

Sideroxylon inerme includes three subspecies: [1]

Historical aspects

The "Treaty Tree" in Woodstock, Cape Town. Photo 5 Treaty Tree. Cnr Treaty and Spring St, Woodstock. Cape Town..JPG
The "Treaty Tree" in Woodstock, Cape Town.

The white milkwood has great significance in South Africa's heritage, with three specimens proclaimed as provincial heritage sites:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sideroxylon inerme L. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  2. "Protected Trees" (PDF). Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Sideroxylon inerme in Freddie Bosman' site, from the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
  4. Sideroxylon inerme Archived 2012-05-30 at the Wayback Machine in PROTA4U site, a database and use guide for African plants.
  5. "The Portuguese in South Africa". ancestor24.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. "STILBAAI'S SPECIAL MILKWOOD TREE". My Stilbaai.co.za Business Restaurant Accommodation Tourism Guide Southern Cape. Retrieved 2023-05-23.