A prickly customer
Name: Zanthoxylumcapense (Thunb.)Harv. Family: Rutaceae(Citrusfamily) Common names: Engl. Smallknobwood Afr. Kleinperdepram Xho. Umlungumabele
Description
This is usually a small, multi-branched tree about four metres in height, but many reach 10m under favourable conditions. Leaves are divided into several pairs of leaflets, each about 20mm in height, gland-dotted especially near the margin and citrus-scented when crushed. Bark is grey, smooth, characteristically armed with cone-shaped knobs tipped with short, straight spines; stems and leaflets sometimes armed with prickles. Flowers are small, greenish-white in short terminal branched sprays (January). Fruit is small, brownish red, gland-dotted, splitting when ripe to reveal a shiny black seed which half emerges (February-May).
Conservation status
According to the SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) Red list of South African Plants, Zanthoxylum capense was not selected in any one of four screening processes for highlighting potential taxa of conservation concern for detailed assessment and was hence given Learn about our natural heritage and the links between cultural and biological diversity an automated status of Least Concern (LC). The Threatened Species Programme is currently systematically completing full assessments for all taxa with an automated status. http://redlist.sanbi.org
Distribution and habitat
Zaythoxylum capense occurs in a variety of habitats, including dry woodland or bush, often in rocky places and also at higher altitudes among rocks and even into the mist belt. Provincial distribution: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
Derivation of name and historical aspects
Zanthoxylum is a Greek word, xanthos meaning ‘ yellow’ or ‘golden’, xylon meaning ‘from the forest’ or ‘dweller in the forest’; capense means ‘of the Cape’.
Before the colonial times the Xhosa common name was umnungumabele, meaning ‘thorns that resemble breasts’. After the arrival of European women in the country the name changed to umlungumabele, meaning ‘white woman’s breasts’ because of the large woody cone-shaped knobs on the bark resemble the breasts of a woman wearing a brassiere.
Ecology
This tree is a host for the Citrus swallowtail ( Papilio demodocus), White-banded swallowtail ( Papilio echerioides) and Emperor swallowtail ( Papilio ophidicephalus) butterflies. The ripe fruits are eaten by vervet monkeys and baboons. Leaves are browsed by kudu, klipspringer and grey duiker. Seeds are eaten by various birds species.
Uses and cultural aspects
Roots, bark, leaves and fruit are used.
Early records show that this traditional medicine was widely used, mainly for flatulent colic, stomach ache, fever and also for toothache and as a mouthwash. It is an old remedy for epilepsy and numerous other ailments. Gastric and intestinal disorders as well as intestinal parasites, have been treated with an infusion of the leaves. After the bark has been removed from the ends of the twigs, they are beaten flat to make toothbrushes. Powdered bark is used to treat toothache by rubbing the powder onto the aching tooth and gums. This will cause the tooth to disintegrate piece by piece after which it can be removed. Healthy teeth can be damaged though, if care is not taken while applying the medicine.
Growing Zanthoxylum capense
Seedlings found underneath trees in the veld transplant well and this is the best method of obtaining this tree, as the seed does not germinate easily. Col- lect fresh seed, which should be soaked in hydrochloric or sulphuric acid solution and then soaked overnight in hot water prior to sowing. Sow the seed in a 1:1 mixture of river sand and compost and keep moist in a shady spot. Transplant the seedlings into nursey bags when they reach the 2-leaf stage. The growth rate is moderate to fast, 600800 mm per year.
• In Local and Lovely, learn about our natural heritage and the links between cultural and biological diversity. Someleze Mgcuwa is a plant digitiser for the Karoo Bio gaps project, based in the Schonland Herbarium.
References and further reading
Coates Palgrave, M. 2002 (third edition). Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Nature, Cape Town
Van Wyk, B.E., van Oudtshoorn, B., Gericke, Medicinal Plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria
Zukulu, S., Dold, T., Abbott, T., Raimondo, D. 2012. Medicinal and Charm Plants of Pondoland. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).
www.plantzafrica.com