Rauvolfia afra
Introduction
A fine, fast-growing tree for sheltered gardens, easily grown from seed and an unusually decorative tree for larger gardens and parks.
Description
Description
Rauvolfia afra is an evergreen tree, up to 30 m tall, with a roundish crown. The main stem is straight, tall, and bare. Bark is grey to brown, rough with prominent leaf scars on younger branches, becoming yellowish brown, thinly corky and cracked into small squares with age. Leaves simple, in whorls of 3-6, crowded at the ends of the branchlets, slightly leathery, tapering to both ends, about 120-280 mm long and 30-60 mm broad. Leaf blade shiny green above, paler green below with midrib raised and margins smooth. Leaf stalk up to 35 mm long.
Flowers are produced in terminal sprays at ends of branches, small, about 4 mm long, white, waxy and sweetly scented, with dense hairs at mouth of flower tube. Flowering time is from May to October. Fruits are in large branched clusters, fleshy, almost spherical, 1- or 2-locular, shiny dark green with white spots, turning black and wrinkled when mature. Fruiting time is from October to March.
Conservation Status
Status
The IUCN Red List status for Rauvolfia afra is Least Concern because, being a protected tree in South Africa, it is not over-exploited commercially (see the uses below).
Distribution and habitat
Distribution description
Rauvolfia is a genus of about 60 species; seven of these are found in Africa, three in Madagascar and one is confined to southern Africa.
Rauvolfia afra is restricted to coastal forests in east, central and southern Africa. The species occurs in seven provinces in South Africa and in Swaziland. In South Africa, it is found along the coastal belt, in the eastern regions of South Africa, from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, extending further north and inland to Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North-West. Rauvolfia afra occurs at an altitude from 0 to about 1500 m on sandy and loamy soils. It is usually found along wooded streams, on river banks, at margins of evergreen forest and in swamp forest where it can reach up to 30 m in height. When growing away from rivers and streams the species is always associated with available ground water, and is therefore regarded as an indicator of water, and classified as a hydrophyte.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
History
Rauvolfia was named after Leonhart Rauwolf of Augsburg, a 16th century medical doctor and collector of medicinal plants. The species name was previously caffra, which refers to Kaffraria, an old name for the Eastern Cape. Today this word is not used as it is an offensive slur. It was used in older botanical works, and generally indicates that the plant was found along the southeastern seaboard of South Africa. Today the species name is afra, meaning, ‘of Africa’. The common name quinine tree refers to the bitter and supposedly quinine-like properties of the bark.
Ecology
Ecology
The sweetly scented flowers attract butterflies and other insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds, that bring about pollination. The hydrophilic nature of the plant allows seed dispersal by water.
Uses
Use
Rauvolfia afra is of economic value. The wood is used for drums, general timber work on the farm, making of fruit boxes, and is ideal for kitchen furniture and shelving.
The bark is used as a dressing for wounds and the infusion is used to kill maggots in wounds. Pieces of bark are chewed to treat coughs. The latex is used to treat diarrhoea and other stomach ailments. The latex contains alkaloids that are used in preparations for the treatment of high blood pressure and certain mental aberrations. The leaves, flowers and fruits serve as a food source for vervet monkeys.
Growing Rauvolfia afra
Grow
Rauvolfia afra is a very decorative neat shade tree and is suitable for larger gardens and parks.
It is easily propagated from seed, transplants well, and is comparatively fast-growing, with a growth rate of up to 1.5 m per year.
The pulp must be removed from the fruit, washed with water and sown in seedling trays filled with a mixture of river sand and compost. The seeds should be pressed into the mixture until they are flush with the surface. The seedlings should be transplanted into nursery bags at the 3-leaf stage. Seedlings and young plants transplant well when given sufficient water for the first three months until they are established.
Young plants should be placed in good fertile soil that contains plenty of compost, in moist areas. The species is not resistant to cold and thus cannot cope with odd frost conditions.
References
- Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of southern Africa, edn 3. Struik, Cape Town.
- Leistner, O.A. 2005. Seed plants of southern tropical Africa: families and genera. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 26. SABONET, Pretoria.
- Pooley, E. 2003. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand & Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
- Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds) 2009. Red List of South African plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
- Van Wyk, A.E.& van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.
- Van Wyk, P. 1974. Trees of the Kruger National Park. Purnell & Sons, Cape Town.
- Venter, F. & Venter, J. 1996. Making the most of indigenous trees. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
Credits
Sifiso Mnxati
KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
July 2011
Plant Attributes:
Plant Type: Tree
SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Western Cape
Soil type: Sandy, Loam
Flowering season: Early Summer, Late Summer
PH: Neutral
Flower colour: White
Aspect: Full Sun
Gardening skill: Average
Special Features:
Attracts birds
Attracts butterflies
Fragrant
Medical plant
Useful plant
Feeds honeybees
Wet sites
Horticultural zones
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