South Africa is a land of breath-taking landscapes and diverse ecosystems. It is home to an array of unique flora and fauna. Among its many botanical treasures, the tamboti tree (Spirostachys africana) stands out as a symbol of historical, cultural, and ecological significance. This resilient and revered tree, native to the southern parts of the African continent, continues to be a vital component of South Africa’s natural heritage.
Renowned for its beautiful wood, the tamboti is a medium-sized, semi-deciduous tree. It occurs in low altitude bushveld, often in dense stands in warm woodland and valley bushveld. Trees are common close to water – along rivers, seasonal streams, in brackish and poorly drained soils. Their deep root systems enable them to access water during dry seasons, making them resilient in arid regions.
The tamboti belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It can grow up to 18 meters in height and is commonly known for its toxic, milky latex. Its characteristic bark is dark brown to black, thick, rough which is neatly cracked into regular rectangular blocks that are arranged in longitudinal rows. It has distinctive dark green compound leaves with finely toothed edges. The young, red leaves are often visible among the older, green leaves in spring.
The leaves are a popular food source for kudu, nyala, impala and vervet monkeys, elephants, bushbuck, giraffe, and eland. Black rhino is known to eat young branches. Duiker, impala and nyala also feed on the dry fallen leaves of this tree. Larvae of the giant silk moth or African moon moth (Argema mimosae) feed on the leaves. Porcupines consume the bark. Except for the crested guineafowl, francolins and doves, birds generally avoid this tree.
What truly sets this tree apart are its vibrant orange-red fruits, which dangle from its branches during the late summer and early autumn months. These fruits, while toxic to humans, are a vital food source for various bird species and play a crucial role in the tree’s ecological interactions. The fruit is a capsule that is three-lobed, and once mature, it becomes yellowish-brown before dehiscing with an audible popping sound, that can be heard on hot summer days from October to February. Bird species, including hornbills, barbets, and turacos, all play a vital role in seed dispersal.
The tamboti is one of the ‘jumping bean’ trees, because the seeds become infested with the larvae of the snout moth (Emporia melanobasis) which develops within the growing fruit. The larvae jack-knife inside the fallen segments, usually during bright, hot sunlight – causing them to move about erratically and vigorously, even jumping up to a height of 30cm.
Tamboti’s are monoecious – having both male and female flowers. The flowerheads bear mostly male and a few female flowers. The female flowers are attached at the base of each spike. Flowering takes place in August to September before the new leaves appear. The flowering spikes of this plant are unusual in appearance, as the male flowers appear gold-coloured because of the pollen, whereas female flowers are blood red.
Beyond its ecological importance, the Tamboti tree has cultural significance among various South African communities. The Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho, have revered this tree for generations, incorporating it into their rituals and traditions. It is often used to make traditional medicines, as its bark and leaves are believed to have healing properties. Even the latex, which is very toxic to humans, has traditional medicinal uses, for example, a drop of the fresh latex can be applied to relieve toothache. The bark is used to treat stomach pains, but large dosages will cause damage to the internal organs. The poisonous latex is also traditionally used to stupefy fish, making them easier to catch.
The wood is still used traditionally for fencing, hut rafters, walking sticks and necklaces. It is also utilized in the construction of musical instruments, such as the marimba. The wood is so strong that you can make gunstocks or arrows from it.
The sawdust from the wood is harmful to the eyes and can even cause blindness. It is not suitable as firewood because the smoke is toxic and will cause diarrhoea if food cooked on the coals is eaten.
Unfortunately, and because the tamboti tree’s wood is prized for its strength and durability, this has unfortunately, led to overharvesting and a decline in its population in some regions. The result of this is that conservationists and local communities have joined forces to preserve this invaluable tree, recognizing its ecological significance and its role in preserving South Africa’s natural heritage.
Cover image : Wim Vorster
