Favourite Trees

[Meandering Mouse]

I have put my tick next to fever tree. (difficult to choose)
When I start seeing the fever trees close to Nelspruit, I know we are almost there.
It is also has such an unusual colouring.
The most beautiful fever tree I have ever seen is in Skukuza Village.
I also think it got a bad rap in being blamed for Maleria.

[MarkWildDog]

Arks & Bucky;

The Sycamore Fig is included but under it's most-used name the Common Cluster Fig. It's the same tree.

Wow Baobab is doing really well!

[bucky]

I have checked this out a little more throughly .
My biggest and newest book lists 19 types of ficus (Fig) trees in South Africa , and I am sure there may be more .
There common names all end in fig , although only 2 have "common" in there common names .

The 2 in question here are the Ficus sycomorus and ficus thonningii .

Ficus sycomorus - Common cluster fig , sycamore fig tree .
Habitat - bushveld ,on alluvial soils next to rivers and streams .

Ficus thonningii - Common wild fig
Habitat - bushveld

Both are large and of similar shape , although the sycomorus trees along the larger rivers are the biggest .
The sycomorus has white-yellowish bark which flakes off in patches , while the thonningii has smooth grey bark .

[Jazil]

Bucky, isn't the ficus capenses. or broom cluster fig (I think) not also very common? We have masses of them here, and we are also middle to low veld? Am I foncusing things again?

WE had the most amazing ficus sycamorus in our garden in the real lowveld years ago, it was enormous, its girth would have taken about four to five people standing finger tip to finger tip to get round it. It was magnificent.

[bucky]

Jazzil , some may well be very common in there areas of growth , however only 2 have common as part of there name , which is what I was referring to .

Funnily enough neither are considered a good suburban garden subject ,I can't figure out why though

[Meandering Mouse]

I have one in my garden Bucky. It is a stunning tree, but the roots can be wicked in terms of plumbing, foundations and swimming pools.

[MarkWildDog]

@Arks:

If you have a look here they use Common Cluster Fig instead. Also in most tree books, encyclopedias, etc... they have it down as Common Cluster/ Sycamore Fig.

But anyway...

Ficus sycamorus = Common Cluster/ Sycamore Fig

[G@mespotter]

MA RU LA because is one of these trees that provided me with a few leopard sightings.......and they also shape the character of the flat plains....

[naomi c]

I voted for the Umbrella Thorn, but am a lover of all trees.

I found this poem next to the sightings board in Satara many years ago and thought I would share it with all the tree lovers:

THE TREE

Let us pause for the taking of inventory
To measure the debt we owe the tree
For the searching root that knits the soil
The cooling shade for those who toil
The air we breathe, nature's greatest gift
And the leaf that heralds each season's shift.

Forget not the fruit that feeds man and beast
The branch that burns to prepare the feast
The sturdy frame that builds the home
And the paper on which you read this poem
The tree gives all and take no prize
Even making the axe that ends its life!

[Sawubona]

Voted Fever Tree.

Bark Colour and shape is interesting.

[anne-marie]

I voted for baobab... but if we could vote twice... also fever tree

[Meandering Mouse]

This is one of my traffic jam pictures. I just love this tree and always stop to admire it. It is one the main road between Olifants and Satara.

I am sure many will recognise it.

[Ouma Biskuit]

Knob thorn