Sideroxylon inerme
Encyclopedia
Sideroxylon inerme is a Southern Africa
n coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, dainty white flowers. The tree's formal name means "Iron-wood" in Greek, referring to its very hard timber.
It is one of South Africa
's Protected Trees and several specimens are National Monument
s. This is the only member of the Sideroxylon genus in Southern Africa.
. 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.
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.
The Milkwood has considerable value in traditional medicine and attracts birds, monkeys and other animals to its flowers and fruits. It is also an effective firebreak
and is cultivated for that purpose.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
n coastal tree, with dense foliage, black berries and small, dainty white flowers. The tree's formal name means "Iron-wood" in Greek, referring to its very hard timber.
It is one of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Protected Trees and several specimens are National Monument
National monument
A National monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of national importance such as a war or the country's founding. The term may also refer to a specific monument status, such as a National Heritage Site, which most national monuments are by reason of their cultural...
s. This is the only member of the Sideroxylon genus in Southern Africa.
Distribution
The Sideroxylon inerme trees are scattered through the coastal woodlands and littoral forests of South Africa as far as ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. Historically, dense forests of large Milkwood trees used to exist along the coast and bays of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, especially at Noordhoek
Noordhoek
Noordhoek may refer to:* Noordhoek, Cape Town, South Africa* Noordhoek, Bloemfontein, South Africa* Noordhoek , the Netherlands* Noordhoek , the Netherlands...
, 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.
Description
Sideroxylon inerme is is a semi-coastal sturdy broadleaf evergreen treeEvergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
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
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
. Young branches and new leaves are always covered with fine hairs. The tree can reach 15 m.
The Milkwood has considerable value in traditional medicine and attracts birds, monkeys and other animals to its flowers and fruits. It is also an effective firebreak
Firebreak
A firebreak is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that acts as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a bushfire or wildfire. A firebreak may occur naturally where there is a lack of vegetation or "fuel", such as a river, lake or canyon...
and is cultivated for that purpose.
Historical aspects
The White Milkwood has great significance in South Africa's heritage, with three specimen proclaimed national monuments:- The "Post Office Tree" - in Mossel BayMossel BayMossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
, believed to be 600 years old, carried the message of the drowning at sea of the Bartholomew Dias in a shoe tied to its branches. - The "Treaty Tree" in Woodstock, Cape Town stood next to the house where in 1806 Cape Town was surrendered to the British.
- The "Fingo Milkwood" in the Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
was the location where the FingoFingoFingo may refer to:* The Fingo tribe of South Africa.* Fingo fever, a disease of Victorian Australia.* FinGO, a mobile communications company.* The 'hypotheses non fingo'....
people signed a treaty of alliance with the Cape ColonyCape ColonyThe Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
.