SOME trees really shout for your attention.
Recently while visiting the iSimangaliso wetland park the African mangosteen trees were doing just that. They were covered in the brightest of orange fruit, about the size of an apricot, which I believe is rather tasty.
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Even when not in fruit this stocky, spiky tree is attractive but Garcinia livingstonei, – its formal name – is stunning when in fruit.
After my visit to iSimangaliso, I wanted to find out more about this interesting species so I took out my much thumbed copy of Richard Boon’s ‘Pooley’s Trees’. This valuable guide to the trees of Eastern South Africa should be on the bookshelf of any KwaZulu-Natal nature lover.
A Flora and Fauna Publications Trust publication, it was compiled by Richard Boon who,made extensive use of botanist Elsa Pooley’s earlier ‘The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei’.
According to Richard, Garcinia is a fairly cosmopolitan genus, with about 400 species occurring in the tropical regions of the world.
We only have two species in southern Africa, Garcinia livingstonei and the forest mangosteen, Garcinia gerrardii.
Richard tells us that Garcinia livingstonei grows in low altitude bushveld and coastal grassland, of which iSimangaliso boasts plenty. The small yellowish flowers attract insects as they produce copious nectar and the fruit, roots and bark are all used by game.
The tree also has cultural significance. The powdered root is used as an aphrodisiac and branches of this tree are placed on graves.
It is also interesting to note that work is being done to cultivate this species for its tasty, acid-sweet nutritious fruit.
Regarding the iSimangaliso flora or fauna, there is always something that catches your attention when you visit this magnificent World Heritage site. The wetland park is also a reminder of how we can help to heal our earth.
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The park authorities have worked miracles, removing thousands of hectares of alien tree plantations to restore the natural vegetation and to pave the way to the restocking of the park with the game that should occur there.
I honestly believe this wonder-filled wetland park has the potential to rival Kruger National Park as South Africa’s premier eco-tourism destination.
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