Home South Africa – September 2019

September 2019 home 91

Trees of the Year

In South Africa, Arbor Day was first

celebrated in 1983 to raise awareness of the

valueof treesasa sourceof building

material,foodandmedicineandforthe role

theyplayin thehealthandwell-beingof our

communities.In1999,thecelebrationof

ArborDaywasextendedto NationalArbor

Week,1–7September.

TwoTreesof theYearareselectedevery

year;thesearethe 2019 choices:

Theapple-leaf(Philenopteraviolacea) makes a

lovelygardensubjectdueto itsgraceful growth

habit,palefoliageandbeautifulflowers.

Thismediumto large,deciduousto semi-deciduous tree

is frost-sensitiveanddrought-resistantwith a spreading,

densecrown.Spraysof sweetlyscented white to bluish-pink,

mauveto deepvioletflowersappearfrom September to

December,followedbyflatpods.Thewood is used in

carvings,forbuildingpolesandin traditional remedies. >>

ByKayMontgomery

The marula (Sclerocarya birrea) is widespread in Africa, from Ethiopia to

KwaZulu-Natal. This is one of the easier indigenous trees to propagate,

although it is slow-growing. It is a medium to large deciduous tree for

frost-free areas, with an erect trunk and rounded crown. Male and female

flowers are borne on separate trees, the flowers of male plants producing

pollen and the female flowers producing fruit. Insects pollinate the

flowers. The fruit is edible, eaten fresh or made into jelly, while a liqueur

made from the fruit is available commercially. The wood of the tree is

used for furniture, flooring, carving and household utensils.

Photograph

Getty Images

Inset photographs

Mark Mattson and Geoff Nichols

Did you know?

The marula tree can grow up to

18m in nature, but in a garden

setting will not grow as tall.

Apple-leaf pods

Marula fruit