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H-f! Stunning.

Bishop, that was a great question Had to do some of research and learned a lot along the way


I could grow in your garden. Ripen fruit is eaten by Vervet Monkeys. Bark maceration can be drunk to threat womens's and men's ailments. But be careful: The leaves and the roots have been reported to have caused death.

Is it one of the solanaceae?

Is it the phyllanthus recticulatus (potato bush)?

Sorry OWN and Bushman, but no

Could be found in your garden, but is not a common garden plant. I am a medium-sized tree.

Ficus sur? (Wild fig, cape fig, broom cluster fig, bush fig)

Bauhinia thonningii

Nope.

Another hint: The Zulu's use the bark as medicine to treat cases of impotency and barrenness.

Hang in there, HF.


Bersama lucens

Bersama lucens

Family : Melianthaceae (white ash family)
Common names : glossy white ash ( Eng. ); blinkblaarwitessenhout (Afr.); isiNdiyandiya (Xhosa); uNdiyaza (Zulu)


Bersama lucens is not a common garden plant, rather a specialist specimen that still needs to be promoted in the garden fraternity.

Bersama lucens is a small to medium-sized tree, of 3 to 10 m high. The leaves are compound, shiny, leathery, thick and dark green; they are divided into 2-4 pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet with a short stalk. The midrib is yellow and the veins are conspicuous. The margins are wavy and entire. The flowers are small, greenish white, on slender stalks, in long, narrow heads. The tree flowers from September to May. The fruits are dull green, velvety, wrinkled, woody capsules of up to 20 mm in diameter. The capsule has 4 valves, with scarlet seeds half covered in a fleshy, yellowish aril.

Conservation status
Bersama lucens is not protected by any legislation in South Africa.

Distribution and habitat
Bersama lucens occurs from the northeastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, eastern Gauteng and southern Mozambique. It is found growing in a variety of habitats ranging from swamps, coastal forests, high inland forests of the interior, forest margins, in kloofs and in dune bush. It is found from sea level to an altitude of about 1 200 m.

Derivation of name and historical aspects
The genus Bersama is recognized by its dense, heavy foliage with beautiful brown new growth. The genus name Bersama refers to the Ethiopian name for this genus. The specific epithet lucens is the Latin word for glossy, which refers to the leaf surface. There are seven species of Bersama in southern Africa.


Ecology
The fruits ripen from late summer and are eaten by Vervet monkeys.

Uses and cultural aspects
Bersama lucens is a handsome evergreen tree suitable for small gardens. The Zulus use the bark as medicine to relieve menstrual pain and to treat cases of impotency and barrenness. The leaves and the roots have been reported to have caused death. This tree is also regarded as a magical protector against evil spirits.


You've done it again

Great information, HF.

Who's to post?

As I was away, and dutifully and courteously notified other quizzers, and seeing that nobody took the opportunity, I'll be back with a Q soon.