Common Name:

General Information

Schotia afra is a much-branched, evergreen shrub or small tree with a somewhat spreading crown; it can grow up to 7 metres tall. The bole is usually gnarled[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of tannins and wood. It is an attractive ornamental, especially when in flower[, ].
Although Schotia afra angustifolia, the Namibian variety, is rare and protected by law, the South African variety, S. Afra afra, does not appear to be threatened. Overall, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - southern Namibia, S. Africa.

Habitat

Found chiefly in dry karroid valley bush-veld and scrub and in dry broken country, but it occupies a diverse range of habitats[]. Often found along the banks of dry streams and small rivers[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Birds
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of dry areas in the subtropics of southern Africa.
Succeeds in full sun or in light shade. Young plants develop fairly quickly if planted in a rich, well-drained soil[].
The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, which attract birds, especially sunbirds[].
The tree responds well to pruning and can be grown as a bonsai specimen[].
The seeds are produced in a seedpod that ejects them explosively as it dries[].
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Seed - eaten when still green or when mature[]. They are often roasted then eaten[]. Traditionally, the pods are picked green and then roasted. The seeds would have effectively been steamed inside the pods before being removed and eaten[]. The roasted seeds can be ground to a meal[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark has been used as a source of tannins[, ].

The reddish brown wood is hard and durable. It is used for yokes and felloes[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a seed tray in a semi-shady area with about 40% shade. The seeds should sown in well-drained, loamy soil and covered with around 3 - 5mm of soil. Water well once a day. Make sure the seeds are not crowded in the tray (this should prevent damping off). The seeds will swell with moisture and should germinate within 7 days. The seedlings should be allowed to develop a tap root and be in their third set of leaves before they are transplanted into planting bags.

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