Ozoroa sphaerocarpa

< Back to search results Go to Plants of the Week Advanced Search

Ozoroa sphaerocarpa R.Fern. & A.Fern.

Family: Anacardiaceae

Common names: currant resin tree (Eng.); korenteharpuisboom (Afr.); imfuce lemnyamma (IsiSwati); monoko (Sepedi)

SA Tree No: 377

View other plants in this family View other plants in this genus

Introduction

This relatively small tree has small whitish flowers, with the sexes occurring on separate plants. It is highly valued by rural communities because of its resistant wood and multipurpose use.

Tree growing in habitat

Description

This is a small, deciduous, round-crowned tree that can grow up to 7 m in height. The young branches are reddish brown and covered in lenticels and hairs. The bark is dark grey and cracking. Leaves are alternate or whorled in groups of 3, egg-shaped and covered in soft hairs when young, developing a more quilted appearance with age; the leaf margin is thickened and minutely scalloped attached to a leaf stalk.

Leaves

Inflorescences are attached at the branch apices and they are shorter than the leaves; female inflorescences are looser than male inflorescences; flowers are creamy whitish and flower in September to November.

Flowers and leaves

Conservation Status

Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the Red List of South African Plants.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

The species was discovered in the southern parts of Mozambique and is known to occur in the Limpopo Province, spreading south to Mpumalanga, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal. It flourishes in woodlands and bushveld.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The origin of the name Ozoroa is currently unknown, but the specific epithet sphaerocarpa means ‘rounded or spherical fruit’ referring to the shape of the fruit the tree bears.

Spherical fruits

Uses

Use

The bark, roots and leaves of this species all have medicinal uses; specifically the tree bark which is used to treat chest inflammation, erectile dysfunction and dysentery. The tree sap is used for birdlime. Old tree trunks are believed to last longer than metal and are used as fence posts and to build livestock kraals (unpublished); pieces of tree bark are also used to make sour milk (inkomazi).

Growing Ozoroa sphaerocarpa

Grow

Within its family, species of Ozoroa are the most difficult to propagate. It is best to sow the seeds immediately after removing the fleshy outer covering. The soil must be well drained, as too much moisture might cause the roots to rot.

References

Funston, M., Borchert, P. & Van Wyk, B. 1993. Bushveld trees: lifeblood of the Transvaal lowveld. Fernwood Press, Cape Town.
Ispot. www.ispot.org.za. Accessed on 10/11/2014.
Nichols, G. 2005. Growing rare plants: a practical handbook on propagating the threatened plants of southern Africa. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 36.
Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. 2002. Trees & shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana, Johannesburg.
Van Wyk, Braam, A.E & Van Wyk, P. 2013. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.

Credits

M. Mogale
Threatened Species Programme (TSP)
December 2014

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Tree

SA Distribution: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga

Soil type: Loam

Flowering season: Spring

PH:

Flower colour: White, Cream

Aspect: Full Sun

Gardening skill: Challenging

Special Features:

Drought resistant

Medical plant

Useful plant

Ozoroa sphaerocarpa