Balanitaceae - Green Thorn family
SA Tree no 251
Although this tree is more common on sandy soils, it does not show specific soil preferences. Young trees are often found in groups. It is very conspicuous in the sand forests of Mkuze Game Reserve.
This is a medium to large tree, growing 8 - 20 m, with a moderate density. It is high branching, with a deeply multi-fluted trunk, and smooth grey bark. The zigzag twigs and branches that grow outwards, give it an overall thorny look. Young trees often closely surround older, mature trees, giving the trunk a multi-stemmed untidy, thorny look. The canopy in very old trees is umbrella-like, which remains V-shaped in some quite large mature trees. The thorns are green, with brown tips. The leaves are characteristic, being broadly elliptic to almost round, with a smooth margin and a central vein that is slightly off centre.
Links with animals - Elephant eat the young shoots, and monkey, baboon, impala, kudu, duiker, warthog and steenbok eat the fruit.
Human uses - The fruit can be eaten. While being harmless to humans, it can kill snails, tadpoles and fish, and has been used to control bilharzia snails. The kernels are rich in fine, colourless oil, similar to olive oil, and are burned for torches. Bark, soaked in water is used for a refreshing bath, and extracts can induce vomiting.
Gardening - It will grow in most gardens, from seed. As it has abundant thorns, it is unsuitable for family gardens.
Leaves - Compound, with two leaflets, broad and elliptic, with smooth margins, finely hairy when young; green to buff-green, (60 - 80 x 50 - 70 mm)
Flowers - Small, inconspicuous, scented, star-shaped flowers are covered by velvety hairs. The tree only flowers every second or third year, from July to October.
(20 mm)
Fruit - The fruit is big, oval and looks like plums and is covered with fine hairs, and light brown in colour. The flesh is thin and bitter. They appear from November to January, and ripen to a yellowish colour, from May. Ripe fruit is dropped, with the stem attached, from May to July. (30 - 50 x 20 - 30 mm)
Spines - The spines are usually forked and prominent, especially on sterile branches where they may have 2 - 3 prongs. The fruiting branches have thinner, straight thorns. Thorns are green with brown tips. On older branches the thorns are grey-brown in colour.
Best places to see the Green Thorn in Southern Africa:
The Green Thorn is found in the Kruger National Park in the Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets & Thorn Veld ecozones.
 Tree species of Southern Africa >> Printable Tree List <<
South African Trees >> Printable Tree List <<
The Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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