Rapanea melanophloeos

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Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez

Family: Myrsinaceae

Common names: Cape Beech (Eng.); Boekenhout, Beukehout (Afr.); IsiCalabi, umaPhipha, iKhubalwane, isiQalaba sehlati (Zulu); isiQwane sehlati (Xhosa); iGcolo, udzilidzili (Sw)

SA Tree No: 578

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Introduction

The graceful Cape Beech is a hardy tree for a large, coastal garden setting, and for windy areas.

Rapanea melanophloeos

Description

This is an evergreen tree, 4-18 m high. The mature leaves are leathery and dull, dark green, paler below. They are simple, oblong-lanceolate, about 100 mm long, have reddish leaf stalks are and clustered mainly at the end of the branches. When young, leaves are pale green and maroon.

Rapanea melanophloeos, flowering branch.

Small, whitish or creamy yellow clusters of flowers appear on the branchlets in winter, spring and early summer (June to December).

Rapanea melanophloeos, flowers.

The fruits are thinly fleshed and spherical in shape, green when young and purple when matured.

Rapanea melanophloeos, fruiting branch.

It is not uncommon to find flowers and fruit on the same tree. Fruits start appearing three months after the flowers.

Rapanea melanophloeos, fruits.

Conservation Status

Status

Rapanea melanophloes is not threatened or endangered; this is attributed to its wide distribution.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

The Cape Beech is widely distributed throughout southern Africa from the Western Cape to Zambia, and the east coast to the tropics. It is found along the damp areas of mountain and coastal forests or swamps and bush clumps. The Cape beech does well in coastal areas where winds are strong; it is fairly drought-tolerant.

Rapanea melanophloes and R. gilliana (Dwarf Cape Beech) are the two known species of Rapanea in South Africa. Occurring in coastal dune scrub in the Eastern Cape, R. gilliana is a shrub or small tree to 4 m.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

It is surmised that the name Rapanea is derived from the Guinean name. The specific name melanophloeos can be interpreted as 'dark bark', but this is only the case in older specimens.

Bark

The Cape Beech is not related to the European Beech, but earned this name because the grain of its wood looks similar to that of the European Beech. Another South African boekenhout are the Faurea species, which are also not related to the true Beech. The Xhosa name isiQwane sehlati, which means 'Protea of the forest', and describes the protea-like cluster of the leathery leaves at the end of the branches.

Ecology

The flowers attract bees and flies, and the fruit is eaten birds, baboons, vervet monkeys, and bushpig.

Uses

Use

The wood is hard and used to make furniture and violins.

The grey bark and sometimes the roots are used medicinally for respiratory problems, stomach, muscular and heart complaints. The bark contains tannin and is used as iNtelezi (a charm to protect against evil spirits) by Nguni people.

Tree

Growing Rapanea melanophloeos

Grow

It can be used as a hardy screening plant, as it is dense, evergreen and sends out suckers to form bush clumps. It requires low maintenance, if planted in the right area, and is better not planted next to paved areas because roots and new suckers can sprout and damage the paving.

Rapanea melanophloeos grows easily from seed sown in spring or early summer. Sow seeds in a well-drained, general-mix, potting soil, placed in a warm, moist, shaded area. Treatment of seed with fungicide will prevent damping off and increase the percentage germination.

References

Coates Palgrave, K. 1977. Trees of southern Africa, edn 2. Struik, Cape Town.
Palmer, E. & Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
Pooley, E. 1993. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora Publication Trust, Durban.
Smith, C.A. 1966. Common names of South African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 35. Government Printer, Pretoria.
Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
Van Wyk, B.E., van Oudtshoorn, B., Gericke, N., 1997, Medicinal Plants of South Africa, Briza Publications, Pretoria.

Credits

Phakamani m'Afrika Xaba
Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
April 2005

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Tree

SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape

Soil type: Sandy, Loam

Flowering season: Spring, Early Summer, Winter

PH: Acid, Neutral

Flower colour: Cream

Aspect: Full Sun, Morning Sun (Semi Shade), Afternoon Sun (Semi Shade)

Gardening skill: Average

Special Features:

Attracts butterflies

Drought resistant

Hedge/screen

Medical plant

Useful plant

Feeds honeybees

Rapanea melanophloeos