Afromontane Forests of the Southern Cape - Garden Route Botanical Garden

Afromontane Forest

Apodytes dimidiata

Southern Cape Forests

The forests of the Garden Route are the largest remaining contiguous forests in South Africa. There are two major forest types:

Dry coastal forest - occurring in the dry sandy coastal plateaus and coastal river valleys and occassionally going right down to the sea. Characterised by sparse undergrowth and a fairly limited number of tree species. This forest will burn if dry enough.

Wet Afro-montane Forest - occuring at the foot and up the kloofs of the coastal mountain ranges. Characterised by dense and often shrubby undergrowth, a very shallow but damp topsoil and a large number of different species of trees. This forest is too moist to burn and even escaped the 1869 Great Fire.

A delicate balance exists between forest, forest margin, scrub and fynbos. Fires every 10 to 20 years are essential to fynbos but generally do not affect the forest unless there is major alien infestation. the forest margins and surrounding shrubby scrub land will burn in dry conditions and where this happens fynbos will often appear after the weedy pioneer vegetation, giving way to scrub and then to shrubs and later to typical forest margin vegetation. The Southern Cape fynbos and scrub is a constantly changing ecosystem around and between stable forests.

List of Trees to be seen in the Garden Route Botanical Garden

Planting of trees is on-going and is usually concentrated over Arbor Week every year in September when groups of school pupils come to plant and hear lectures about the importance of indigenous trees in the environment.

The first trees planted were hundreds of pioneer trees such as Keurboom, Bietou and Rhus spp. together with the odd forest climax tree such as yellowwoods, Stinkwoods etc along the Eastern boundary of the garden where it runs parallel to Caledon Street. This was done in 1997 and is now a respectable "forest" where we have already had to thin out considerable numbers of Bietou and Rhus to give room for the major climax trees to grow taller and develop properly.

We have since concentrated our efforts along the walls of the developments which have sprung up on our Southern boundary - this serves to visually soften the walls and even to hide them so that they and the houses behind them are not so obtrusive. We have also been planting groves and swathes of trees in the large open spaces of lawn to act as wind breaks to prevent the damage caused by the fierce Noth Westerly Berg Winds we often get in Winter.

Near the Medicinal Mound we have concentrated on planting trees with medicinal properties to complement the herbs growing there. Hopefully the trees will be allowed to grow big enough for us to try and educate bark collectors about the right and wrong way to do it. In this way we hope to make a certain amount of bark available to collectors under controlled conditions and to be able to note the results and effects of "correct" collection. Many of our fairly young Pittosporum viridiflorum trees in other areas have been ring-barked, though some which were not cut too deep have survived and are growing callous bark over the ringing.

Botanical Name	Family	Common Name	Tree No	Identifying characteristics
Acokanthera oppositifolia	Apocynaceae (Oleander family).	Common poison-bush Gewone gifboom.	639	Opposite simple thick leathery leaves with a sharp spine -like point. (Note the leaves themselves are ovate-elliptic).side veins distinct. Petiole thick and wrinkled. Latex present. All parts poisonoous.
Allophylus decipiens	Sapindaceae (Litchi family).	False Currant, Bastertaaibos.	423	Alternate, shallow toothed trifoliolate compound leaves. Leafstalk long and somewhat hairy. Tufts of white hairs in axils of lateral veins underneath.idrib and lateral veins prominent.
Apodytes dimidiata	Icacinaceae (White pear family).	White pear, Witpeer.	422	Simple alternate leaves Softly leathery glossy dark green leaves. May be hairy at base of leaf below. Margin wavy. Petiole usually pinkish. The black fruit has an appendage giving the fruit the appearance of birds' eyes. (Sometimes called the Bird's eye tree).
Brachylaeana neriifolia .	Asteraceae (Daisy family).	Water white alder, Waterwitels.	729	Alternate simple leaves with revolute margins sparse rusty hairs below. May have a few coarse teeth. Young growth often with rusty hairs. Sexes separate trees.
Canthium inerme	Rubiaceae (Gardenia family)	Common Turkey-berry, Gewone bokdrol	708	Opposite leaves with spines and interpetiolar stipules. Branchlets may have very robust paired spines. Leaves are softly leathery and fleshy with wavy margins. Hairless. Fruit an oblong bi-lobed dark brown drupe.
Canthium mundianum	Rubiaceae (Gardenia family)	Rock elder Klipels	710	Rather blunt growing tip with distinct stipule between the opposite leaves. On the young petioles one may see dark/black fine hairs. Leaves thinly textured with sparse hairs and domatia often present in axils of principal veins below.
Celtis africana	Ulmaceae (Elm family)	White stinkwood Witstinkhout	39	Bark smooth and whitish with transverse ridges becoming blotchy with age .Leaves serrate in upper margin only and long tipped. Strongly three veined from the base. Thinly leathery: bright to deep green.
Chrysanthemoides monilifera	Asteraceae (daisy family).	Bush tick berry, Bietou	736	Leaves fleshy to semi-succulent. Branchlets often covered with white cobweb-like hairs. There are 2 kinds of fruit. The ray florets produce a shiny purplish black drupe which gives the plant its colloquial name. There are several subspecies.
Clutea pulchella	Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia family)	Lightningbush, Bliksembos	336	Occasional bright orange or red leaf. Thinly textured leaves pale to greyish green above and bluish green below.
Cunonia capensis	Cunoniaceae (Wild Alder family)	Red Alder, Butterspoon, Rooiels, Botterlepel.	140	Young shoots and leaf stalks reddish, Leaves opposite imparipinnately compound; toothed. The name is derived from the tightly appressed spoon-shaped stipules covering the growing shoot. flower long erect axillary spike.
Curtisia dentata .	Cornaceae (Assegai family)	Assegai, Assegaai.	570	Leaves dark green and very glossy above. Opposite with coarsely serrate margin. Prominent brown velvety lateral veins and midrib beneath .Old trees thickly corky with granular bark. Fruit crowned with a persistent calyx.
Cussonia spicata .	Araliaceae (Cabbage tree family).	Common cabbage Tree, Gewone Kiepersol	564	Clustered twice compound terminal leaves. 5-9 subdivided primary leaflets. Leaves thickly leathery and dark green. Trunks are split, hollowed out and used as feeding troughs.
Diospyros dichrophylla	Ebenaceae (Ebony family).	Common Star-apple, Gewone sterappel.	603	Alternate simple entire leaves with revolute margins. Hairy beneath. Ascending branches. Fruit hairy. Calyx persistent.. Sexes separate.
Ekebergia capensis	Meliaceae (Mahogany family)	Cape ash or dog plum, Essenhout	298	Opposite imparipinnate compound leaves. Round fruit
Elaeodendron croceum (Was Cassine papillosa)	(Spikethorn family)	Common saffron, Gewone saffraan	415	Branchlets with raised dots. Leaves thick and leathery with toothed margin. Usually dark green. Fruits creamy yellow and oval in shape. Bark used medicinally but the plant is poisonous. The truly correct name for this species is Cassine zeyheri.
Ficus sur .	Moraceae (Mulberry family)	Broom cluster fig, Besemtrosvy	50	Whitish smooth bark when young. Leaf margins entire or coarsely bluntly dentate. Three-veined from base. Leafstalks and young leaves often reddish. Milky juice is usually present when picked or broken.
Grewia occidentalis .	Tiliaceae) Linden family	Crossberry, Kruisbessie	463	Alternate with serrate margins all round. Rhomboid bluntly pointed leaf three veined from base. Leaf opposed flower clusters. Fruit a 4 lobed drupe Host to butterfly larvae.
Halleria lucida .	Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon family)	Tree fuchsia, Notsung	670	Alternate serrated leaves. Leaves tend to be droopy. Flowers in dense clusters on old wood. Glossy upper surface. An important pioneer tree.
Harpephyllum caffrum	Anacardiaceae (Mango family)	Wildplum, Wildepruim	361	Distinctly asymmetrical at base of leaf. Occasional red leaf. Slightly wavy margin. Fruit elliptical..
Ilex mitis .	Aquifoliaceae) Holly family	Cape Holly, Wilthout	397	The purplish young branches become whitish with age. Above the midrib of the leaf is conspicuously sunken. When leaves are rubbed in water they yiekd a soap like lather. Alternate simple leaves which may have wavy margins.
Kiggelaria africana .	Flacortiaceae (Wild peach family)	Wild peach, Wildeperske	494	Leaves are alternate with small warts in the axils of lateral veins, can be finely wavy or denticulate. leaves mostly dull greyish green. Fruit globose, knobbly and covered with fine hairs. Fruit splits into 5 valves which are bright yellow. The black seeds are covered with a bright orange red covering. The Cymothoe alcimeda caterpillar (butterfly Acraea horta) can completely defoliate the tree.
Lachnostylis hirta	Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia family)	Coalwood, Koolhout	307	Leaves soft, thinly leathery with entire or finely denticulate. Lateral veins widely spreading., impressed above and prominent below. Leaf-stalk often reddish.
Loxostylis alata	Anacardiaceae (Mango family).	Tarwood, Tierhout.	365	Alternate; imparipinnately compound with smooth Young growth conspicuously yellowish to coral. Stalkless hairless glossy green leaflets. Rachis winged. Sexes separate. Male flowers white. Female flowers white with a prominent pink to red sepals. sepals persist.margin to leaflets.Clear latex present.
Nuxia floribunda	Loganiaceae (Wild elder family).	Forest elder, Bosvlier	634	Opposite leaves with finely serrate margins. Petiole stalks are long. Leaf margin somewhat toothed. Leaf soft and has a pointed tip. Leaves tend to droop. The midrib is often purplish. Flower sprays terminal.
Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa	Oleaceae (Olive family).	Ironwood, Ysterhout	618.2	Opposite simple leaves. Margin often wavy. Petiole often purplish. branchlets 4 angled.Main branches steeply rising.
Olea europaea subsp.africana	Oleaceae (Olive family).	Wild olive, Olienhout.	617	Alternate simple entire leaves with revolute margins and secretory cavities. Sharply pointed and spine-tipped. Impressed midrib above. Leaf blades tend to curl downwards. Branchlets 4 angled.
Olinia ventosa	Oliniaceae (Hard pear family).	Hard pear, Hardepeer	513	Alternate simple leaves. glossy dark green leaves from above. Hairless. Strong almond scent when crushed. Midrib prominent below. Terminal branchlets quadrangular. The drupe bears a circular scar.
Pittosporum viridiflorum	Pittospraceae (Cheesewood family)	Cheesewood, Kasuur	139	The crown is usually dense. Leaves shiny dark green and usually wavy. base tapering, alternate simple. Resinous smell when crushed.
Platylophus trifoliatus	Cunoniaceae (Wild alder family)	White Alder, Witels	141	Bark whitish until aged. Long petiole with sessile trifoliate finely serrated leaf margins and long leaflets.
Podocarpus falcatus	Podocarpaceae (Yellowwood family)	Outeniqua yellowwood, Outeniekwageelhout or Kalander	16	Flaking bark and sickle shaped leaves. Fruit round without a fleshy receptacle. these are the giants of the forest reaching up to 45 m in height and becoming 600 to 1000 years old. The leaves are at such an angle to the sun that there is no difference between the upper and lower surface.
Podocarpus latifolius	Podocarpaceae (Yellow wood family).	Real Yellowwood Opregte Geelhout.	18	Alternate leaves with entire margins. Female cones with a bright red to pinkish receptacle. Bark is longitudinally fissured.
Protea mundii .	Proteaceae (Protea family)	White sugarbush, Witsuikerbos.	93	Pioneer in dry to moist places. Leaves alternate & simple, deep to dark green and often woolly at the base and along the margin. White to tawny silk fringes.
Prunus africana	Rosaceae (Rose family).	Red Stinkwood, Bitter almond, Rooistinkhout, Bitteramandel.	147	Leaves alternate; toothed, simple. Bark thick, rough, dark brown to almost black. Petiole pinkish. Fruit a drupe.
Psydrax obovata (Was Canthium obovatum) .	Rubiaceae	Quar, Kwar.	711	Opposite simple with interpetiolar scar or stipules and rolled margins. Minute Domati i.e. pits in axils of veins beneath. Leaves elliptic to obovate.
Rapanea melanophloeos .	Myrsinaceae (Cape myrtle family)	Cape beech, Boekenhout	578	Alternate simple leaves.Leaves thickly leathery with revolute margins. Whorled in whorls of three. Midrib prominent beneath. Young branchlets and leaf stalks purple. Leaves clustered near ends of branches giving the appearance of whorls. Knobbly branches from leaf scarring.
Rhuls undulata (pallens)	Anacardiaceae (Mango family)	Kunibush, Koeniebos	395	Alternate trifoliolate.Much branched multistemmed bush with branchlets often ending in stiff spurs, sometimes spinous. Leaflets sessile. Terminal leaflet often oblanceolate to widely obovate. Apex rounded or blunt often notched or sharp tipped. Margin is not rolled under: often markedly undulate.
Rhus chirindensis	Anacardiaceae (Mango family).	Red currant, Bostaaibos	380	Alternate trifoliate leaf with a rounded stalk and leaflets stalked. Long leafstalk with pointed leaflets and often with a reddish midrib. Note the shrub form may be thorny with short sharply pointed branchlets.
Rhus laevigata	Anacardiaceae (Mango family)	Dune currant, duinetaaibos	385.2	Drupe hairless as opposed to R. incisa where the drupe is densely covered with pinkish brown or creamy hairs
Rhus lancea	Anacardiaceae (Mango family).	Karree Karee	386	Alternate trifoliolate leaves with sessile leaflets. Rough dark brown to blackish bark.Undersurface of leaf pale green with a shiny exudate esp. in young leaves.
Rhus tomentosa .	Anacardiaceae (Mango family)	Real wild currant, Korentebos	394	Alternate trifoliolate with shortly stalked leaflets. Branchlets red and hairy. Leaves hairless above and creamy velvety below. Flowers dense furry and in conspicuous terminal heads. Drupe densely covered with hairs.
Salix mucronata	Salicaceae (Willow family)	Cape Willow, Kaapse Wilger	36	Somewhat drooping habit. Leaves lanceolate, Alternate simple discolorous. Often finely toothed.. Branchlets often reddish.sexes separate with small yellowish flowers for the male and greenish for the female. Seeds covered with woolly hairs.
Scolopia mundii	Flacourtiaceae (Wild peach family).	Red Pear Rooipeer.	496	Leaves alternate, simple sharply dentate. Young plants with spines. Petiole reddish.
Sideroxylon inerme	Sapotaceae (Milkwood family).	White milkwood, Witmelkhout.	579	Alternate simple leaves Latex present. Branchlets may have hairs near tips. Thick leathery shiny dark green leaves.
Sparmannia africana	Tiliaceae) Linden family	Cape Stock-rose. Kaapse stokroos.	457	Leaves alternate, simple, crenate serrate margins, 7 to 9 veined from the base. Long petiole. Leaves lobed. soft and hairy. Sterile stamens beaded.
Tarchonanthus camphoratus .	Asteraceae (daisy family).	Wild camphor bush Wildekamferbos.	733	Leaves alternate and distinctly discolorous. Venation is prominent below and there is a strong smell of camphor when the leaves are crushed. The leaf margin may be entire or finely denticulate.
Trimeria grandiflora	Flacourtiaceae (Wild peach family).	Wild mulberry, Wildemoerbei	503	Leaves alternate Finely toothed 5-9 veined from base. Petiole up to 30mm.
Vepris lanceolata .	Rutaceae (Buchu family)	White Ironwood, Witysterhout.	261	Alternate trifolilate leaves with wavy margins. Fruit black and gland dotted. The trunk is slender and erect.
Virgilia oroboides	Fabaceae (Pea family)	Blossom tree, Keurboom		Short lived pioneer tree. Compound leaves, Trusses of pink pea flowers.

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