This graceful, unarmed tree is sadly often overshadowed by more well-known species. It is one of the prettiest and most striking trees in the bushveld.
This tree is deciduous and is easily identified by two main characteristics: firstly, it is often regarded as one of the first signals of spring, as its beautiful bounty of dark yellow flowers, produced at the ends of branches in large, loose sprays, make their appearance. The second characteristic is its exceptionally long tail-like seedpods.
These trees occur throughout eastern Africa down to Mpumalanga – the southern edge of its range. It is found naturally in low altitude arid bushveld, open woodland, in the vicinity of termite mounds, and at times on riverbanks. It is widespread in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. There are about 30 Cassia species worldwide, but this is the only one found naturally in South Africa.
The sjambok pod has a slender to medium-broad trunk which is covered in bark, ranging from dark brown to grey and black. In old trees the bark is often deeply furrowed.
The flowers usually precede the leaves and come into bloom in early spring (from August) and continue through to October. If the flowers occur before the leaves, the sweet scented flower display is outstanding, although (sadly) only lasts for about a 4-5 week period. The tree, interestingly, is a food plant for the emperor butterflies – coppers of the genus Charaxes, and the white Pieridae.
The distinctive pod-like fruits, resemble elongated leather straps, which dangle from the branches. These appear soon after the flowers. The pods are the source of the tree’s colloquial name and have a tough, leather-like texture that protects the seeds within. Pods can measure up to 1 metre in length! They can have a velvet touch. The pods ripen from a light green to a dark brown and take up to a year to ripen (in autumn or spring)!
The tree is one of the first to shed its leaves in late summer or early autumn.
This tree is popular with both animals and humans. Various birds from parrot species to the grey go-away bird eat the fruit pulp and seeds. Animals such as nyala, giraffe and kudu browse the leaves. Elephants are also said to eat the leaves and the young branches of the tree. Baboons and monkeys feed on the pods that are rarely utilised by browsers.
Traditionally various parts of the tree are used for medicine, treating everything from abscesses, bilharzia, blackwater fever, toothache, and stomach-ache, to using it as a natural abortion agent. Headaches are cured by inhaling the smoke from burning twigs. An infusion is made from the root and taken as an aphrodisiac. The seed is also known to be used as a tonic.
This again is one of nature’s beauties – the sjambok pod is a noteworthy botanical marvel, boasting versatile applications, therapeutic potential and of course, its magnificent spray of yellow beauty in early spring.
