Faurea saligna

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Faurea saligna Harv.

Family: Proteaceae

Common names: willow beechwood, African beech (Eng.); Bosveldboekenhout (Afr.); iSefu, umCalathole (Zulu); isiDwadwa, umOnyeli (Ndebele); mohlako, mongena (Northern Sotho); muTango (Venda)

SA Tree No: 75

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Introduction

The willowy shape of Faurea saligna is a graceful feature in large gardens and landscapes, and its resistance to termites is a bonus, especially in Gauteng.

Image by Geoff Nichols of flowers

Description

Description

Faurea saligna is a small, willowy tree, 7-10 m tall but reaching up to 20 m in KwaZulu-Natal. The trunk is slender and straight, and the bark is dark grey to black.

Image of trunk by Geoff Nichols

The leaves are long and narrow, almost hairless, 65-125 x 13-20 mm, lanceolate-elliptic, slightly sickle-shaped, drooping and waxy. The leaf margins are entire, green in summer and red in autumn. The leaf stalk is 20 mm long. It resembles the karee tree, Searsia lancea ( = Rhus lancea) , but it does not have trifoliate leaves.

It flowers in spring around September.The flower heads are formed in slender spikes, 120-150 x 20-30 mm, green to creamy white. The flower heads are borne at the branch tips and have a honey or coconut scent. The flowers are 12 mm long and are densely covered with adpressed, grey hairs when young.

Close-up image of flowers by Geoff Nichols

The fruit is a small nut with hairs. It is a moderately slow grower.

Conservation Status

Status

Faurea saligna in not threatened as it is common and well distributed. It grows in large populations.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

Faurea saligna occurs in the northeastern part of southern Africa from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, down to North-West Province, Gauteng, Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal. Faurea is the only genus in the Proteaceae that is not endemic in the southwestern Cape.

It occurs in sandy or red loamy soils, and on rocky ridges. It tolerates low to medium altitude and rainfall of 508 mm per annum. It is sensitive to cold, but will thrive in areas with a mild winter.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus Faurea was named by Harvey as a tribute to the memory of a young soldier, who was enthusiastic and passionate about botany, W.C. Faure, the son of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town. He was killed in India by an unknown person while on his way to the regiments.

The specific epithet saligna means resembling a willow tree, referring to the drooping leaves and flowers. This tree received its common name boekenhout or beech from the resemblance of the wood to that of the European beech tree. There are about 15 species of Faurea in Africa and Madagascar, of which six species occur in southern Africa. F. rochetiana is another attractive tree in this genus.

Ecology

Ecology

The wood is not susceptible to borers and termites.

Uses

Use

Faurea saligna wood is good for furniture. It is also used to make poles. The first telephone poles between the old South African Republic and Natal were mainly African beech poles (Palmer & Pitman 1972). The wood is resistant to termites. It also makes good firewood. A red dye is made by soaking Faurea saligna in water. This is a very decorative garden tree.

Image of leaves and flowers

Growing Faurea saligna

Grow

Faurea saligna is grown from seeds and germinates well. Sow seeds in summer in a well-drained soil medium. This tree is suitable for large gardens as it eventually grows into a big tree, so it is not suitable in areas with a limited space for spread. It can be grown successfully in more temperate regions, such as Pretoria, the Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal.

References

  • Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of southern Africa, edn 3. Struik, Cape Town.
  • Palmer, E. & Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
  • Rebelo, A. (Tony) 2001. A field guide to proteas of southern Africa. Fernwood Press & National Botanical Institute, Cape Town.
  • Rousseau, F. 1970. Proteaceae of South Africa. Purnell, Cape Town, Johannesburg, London.
  • Van Wyk, P. 1984. Field guide to the trees of the Kruger National Park. Struik, Cape Town.

Credits

Giles Mbambezeli
Kirstenbosch NBG
June 2008

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Tree

SA Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal

Soil type: Sandy

Flowering season:

PH:

Flower colour:

Aspect:

Gardening skill: Average

Special Features:

Useful plant
Feeds honeybees

Horticultural zones

Zone 1 Coastal summer rainfall, frost free

Zone 5 Bushveld summer rainfall, Light frost