Interesting tree facts: Get to know the matumi and Bushman’s tea
Several indigenous trees in our area have been deemed under threat due to unnecessary destruction. The Hazyview/Kiepersol Conservancy hopes to help protect these trees by teaching the community more about them.
You probably pass by them several times a day, but rarely think what our indigenous trees mean to our environment and community.
In the first article in the series, we focused on the familiar baobab. Next, we’ll be looking at the characteristics and uses of the matumi and Bushman’s tea.
Matumi
The matumi, scientific name Breonadia salicina, is also known as mingerhout and mohlome.
The matumi is a majestic evergreen tree, which can grow up to 30m in height and lives predominantly in riverine forests and along banks of permanent rivers
Its wood, which is very heavy and hard, is used for furniture, boats, floors and construction work. It was used for railway sleepers up to 1960. There is a distinction of note between the sapwood and the heartwood.
The tree flowers from December to March and fruiting is from June to August.
It also has medicinal uses as the bark can be used for stomach problems.
It is a good park and garden tree but should be be located away from buildings. It grows up to one metre per year in warm climates.
A tree made for hugging!
Bushman’s Tea
The Bushman’s tea, scientific name Catha edulis, is also known as Boesmanstee and Mohlatse.
It is an evergreen tree growing up to 25m tall. It resembles a blue gum tree with slender and upright canopy.
There is no great difference between its sapwood and heartwood – moderately heavy, hard and strong.
It flowers from April to June and fruit arrives from June to August.
It’s habitat is on the edges of evergreen forests and rocky wooded hillsides.
The economic value of this tree is that if it is planted and pruned it will produce long straight stems after only a few years. These can be used as poles and for furniture. The wood is also borer proof. It is eaten by livestock and game and can be used as a windbreak.
Medicinally it can be used as a remedy for influenza, coughs, asthma chest complaints and stomach troubles. The leaves, if smoked or chewed, have a stimulant effect and can be brewed as a tea.
