WHEN you suddenly find yourself driving through Mopane woodland in Kruger National Park, you know you are moving from the busy south to the more remote and wilder northern section.
In their book, ‘Making the Most of Indigenous Trees’, Fanie and Julye-Ann Venter describe mopanes as economically useful trees that can be cultivated from seed and gown in groups of up to 50 in a camp.
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They have an untamed nature that might render them unsuitable for your average manicured garden, although if they do grow in your area they would add lovely colour to a garden that is a little on the wild side. They have non-invasive roots making them suitable for garden subjects.
If I did live in Limpopo Province, where they are naturally at home, I would love a house on a hill overlooking a little grove of these graceful trees. Sadly, mopanes would be unlikely to be happy in my garden where the plants have to cope with the salt-laden north easterly wind.
In wild places, vast stretches of undulating mopane woodlands are a sight to behold. They are tall, slender trees that stretch their limbs skyward, providing a fairly dense canopy. In spring, their distinctive butterfly leaves are tinged with red and copper tones and they turn rich golden browns in autumn. In between these seasons they are a bright emerald green. Whatever the seasonal foliage, it contrasts beautifully with the trees’ dark trunks and limbs.
According to the Venters, the green leaves and young branches are eaten by elephants. Giraffe, eland, kudu and other antelope eat the green or fallen leaves.
The leaves also provide food for some butterfly larva and the well-known mopane worm that, in turn is a valuable food source for humans.
People find mopane trees useful, too. Cattle and small stock browse the leaves. Mopane poles are important building material and, although hard to work with, the timber makes good quality furniture. In the past mopane trees were used to make railway sleepers and parquet flooring. An extract from the bark is used for tanning leather.
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