Small-leaved Yellowwood generally grows singly among other species of large Forest trees. It is easiest to find in Forest Canopy, and along some Rivers in the eastern Cape Mountains.

Forest Spoonwoods often grow in small colonies in shallow soil. They are easiest to find in forests, kloofs and ravines, and in rocky areas where there is sufficient moisture, as well as along rivers.

This is a large, forest-canopy tree with a thick straight trunk. Where one is found, others are usually nearby, if they have not been exploited for timber.

The bark of Assegaai is popular in traditional medicine, particularly for the Zulu people, for the treatment of stomach ailments, diarrhoea and as a blood purifier. It is under threat as in some areas there is uncontrolled harvesting which can lead to ring-barking and disease or death of the tree.

 

Four Rhus, Searsia species are covered in the Cape South this month and all of them have both firm, leathery leaves and angular or spur-like/spine-tipped branchlets. These are Rub-rub Currant-rhus, Winged Currant-rhus, Blue Kuni-rhus and Namaqua Kuni-rhus.

The distribution of the four Rhus, Searisa species in Cape South is widespread. Willow Karee-rhus is a specialist at the tip of the continent only. Dune Currant-rhus is a Cape coastal species extending from north of Springbok round to south-west of East London. Red Currant-rhus and Waxy Currant-rhus have far greater distributions, both being eastern South African species, extending their range from fairly close to Cape Town all the way to north of Polokwane in the Bushveld.

Where you’ll find this tree easily Sweet-thorn Acacia, along with African Olive, Olea europaea, ranks as one of South Africa’s most widespread trees. It almost certainly has more individual plants growing within our boundaries, than any other tree

Kamassi grows widely as a Forest understorey species, especially in the forests around Knysna.

Wild-almond is found only in the Mountains in the southwestern tip of South Africa.