Burseraceae - Myrrh family
SA Tree no 285.1
It normally grows in hot, dry places and generally prefers well-drained, deep, sandy soils and rocky outcrops.
Corkwoods have robust, fleshy stems and branches with conspicuous, with bark often peeling in small, straw coloured, papery strips exposing a shiny, greenish under-surface. Most corkwoods have compound leaves, many have spines and the fruit is normally berry-like.
It is single-stemmed, branching profusely low down. to form a roundish canopy. The bark is typical of most corkwoods. The stem is fleshy, with branchlets coming off at right angles from the main stem and branches, and ending in spines, giving the tree a spiky look. The simple leaves are characteristically clustered at the base of the spines. It is a small to medium tree, 2 - 6 m, with moderate density. Most corkwoods produce aromatic resins and gums.
Links with animals - The fruit is eaten by yellowbilled hornbills. Young shoots and leaves are eaten by duiker and elephant.
Human uses - The wood is used to make cups and buckets.
Gardening - This tree can be planted to form a hedge. it grows fast from seed and easily from cuttings. It is fairly frost-resistant and very drought-resistant.
Leaves - Usually simple, clustered in rosette-like groups of 3 - 6, often at the base of the spines; sometimes trifoliate with a big, terminal and two smaller leaves. Shiny, dark green above and paler below, with yellow veins on the upper-surface. The margin is distinctly toothed in the top third of the leaf. Leaves have an elliptic form with a sharp base. (38 x 25 - 30 mm)
Flowers - Inconspicuous, small, narrow, pink or reddish trumpet-like flowers are grouped on short knob-like side branches. Female and bisexual flowers are borne on separate trees. Flowers appear before the leaves, in September and October.
Fruit - The berry-like fruit is egg-shaped and red-green to brown when ripe. Fruit splits open to expose the black and red seeds when ripe, from February to April.
(13 x 10 mm)
Thorns - These are branchlets that come off the main stem and branches, and end in sharp, prominent spines.
Best places to see the Tall Common Corkwood in Southern Africa:
The Tall Common Corkwood is found in the Kruger National Park in the Knob Thorn / Marula Savannah, Lebombo Mountain Bushveld, Olifants Rugged Veld, Mopane Scrubveld, Alluvial Plains & Sandveld 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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