Rubiaceae - Gardenia family
SA Tree no 691
While not having a specific habitat preference, the is easier to find these trees in brackish flats.
The bark of the trunk is pale grey and smooth and flakes off, showing patches of yellow underbark. The tree has an irregular canopy with pale grey upright branches, which are dense. It is a small tree, 3 to 10 m. The pale grey branchlets are visible in the sparse foliage of shiny green leaves.The branchlets are short and thick and often at right angles to the branches, giving the tree a spiky appearance.
Links with animals - The leaves are sometimes browsed by elephant, giraffe and kudu, Ripe fruit is eaten by baboon.
Human uses - Infusion of the fruits and roots induce vomiting. The wood is used for fences, sticks, spoons and firewood,.
Gardening - It is decorative during the flowering season. It can be grown from seed or cuttings and is slow growing, fairly drought-resistant, but sensitive to severe frost.
Leaves - Simple leaves are clustered at the ends of branches in whorls of three. They are spoon-shaped with a broad, rounded tip and a sharp point with a narrow pointed base. Glossy green in colour, and when mature they are smooth and soft. The margin is smooth and slightly wavy. The leaves turn yellow in Autumn.
(30 - 50 x 25 - 40 mm)
Flowers - Sweet-scented, trumpet-like, white flowers are borne singly at the end of the branches. They appear before the leaves, from August to December, and turn creamy to yellow with age. (80 x 100 mm)
Fruit - The fruit is rounded and about the size of a hen's egg. It is covered with blunt lonitudinal ribs and is rough. The skin is very thick and fibrous, Green fruit ripens to a grey-green from December to April, and fruit often remain on trees until August. (60 x 30 - 50 mm)
Best places to see the Transvaal Gardenia in Southern Africa:
The Transvaal Gardenia is found in the Kruger National Park in the Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets, Olifants Rugged Veld & Alluvial Plains 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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