Common Name: Candlewood

General Information

Rothmannia capensis is a shrub or small tree with very attractive, sweetly-scented, bell-shaped flowers, growing from 2.4 - 20 metres tall[, ].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use, and is also often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Africa - S. Africa, Botswana, Swaziland.

Habitat

Rocky outcrops, in ravines and on escarpments, in evergreen forest and forest margins at elevations of 1,000 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of subtropical areas, though its range does just enter the tropics. It is resistant to at least light frosts[].
Prefers loam or sandy soils[]. Grows very well in light shade or in full sun[]. The plant is somewhat drought resistant[].
A moderately fast growing plant, able to increase in height by 70cm per year[].
Plants can flower when only two years old, though most take a little longer[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. It might be edible, but it is not very tasty[].

Medicinal

The powdered roots are used for treating leprosy and rheumatism - the powder is rubbed into tiny incisions made into the skin over the effected parts[].

Juice from the fruits is heated and applied to wounds and burns to speed up the healing process[]. The effected parts are also held in smoke from the burning roots[].

Other Uses

The wood is very hard, pliable and close-grained[, ]. It is popular for making instrument handles and also for making various household utensils, tools, felloes etc[, ]. It makes durable spoons for cooking and stirring sticks for porridge[]. It is also used for engraving[].
The dry wood makes a hot fire[].

Propagation

Seed - fairly easy. Remove the seeds from the brown fruit and sow them in containers. It is important to keep the seed mix moist until germination, which takes place from 14 days onwards[].

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