eMalangeni Forest: Syzygium cordatum

Showing posts with label Syzygium cordatum. Show all posts

Thursday 1 April 2021

Syzygium cordatum at the eMalangeni Forest

Syzygium cordatum is very much the dominant tree in this area growing not only in the eMalangeni forest and forest margins but as bush clumps throughout the grasslands in the immediate proximity to the Kosi Bay complex where it no doubt plays an important role in the ecosystems where it grows.

A mature Syzygium cordatum growing on the forest edge at the eMalangeni Forest in the Kosi Bay Complex on the north east coast of South Africa

The tree Syzygium cordatum locally known as umdoni in the Zulu language and water berry in English belongs to the same plant family Myrtaceae as the common guava, Psidium guajava.

Syzygium cordatum trees are favoured by many epiphytes in particular the indigenous epiphytic orchid, Cyrtanthus arcuata that in many areas grows exclusively on these trees.

Cyrtorchis arcuata growing on Syzygium cordatum eMalangeni Forest in the Kosi Bay Complex of the north east coast of South Africa

In the bush clumps in the surrounding grassland dominated by Syzygium cordatum trees there is a particular relationship between the Syzygium cordatum tree, the Kosi Bay cycad Encephalartos ferox that grow underneath them and the Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes buccinator that eats the seeds of the Cycad and deposits the seeds under the Syzygium trees where they can be found grown in great numbers.

Kosi Bay cycad Encephalartos ferox growing under Syzygium cordatum at eMalangeni forest in the Kosi Bay complex on the north east coast of South Africa

Description

Syzygium cordatum is a water loving evergreen single or multi-stem tree, which grows to a height of 8 -15 m being larger in forest and much smaller in open grassland. The leaves are elliptic to circular, bluish green on top and a paler green below. Young leaves are reddish. The specific name cordatum is from the Latin word cordatus, meaning 'heart-shaped', referring to the shape of the base of the leaf.

Flowers

Syzygium cordatum has white to pinkish fragrant flowers that produce abundant nectar are borne in branched terminals and have numerous fluffy stamens. produce abundant nectar flowers from August to November.

The flower of syzygium cordatum growing at the eMalangeni Forest

Fruit

The fruits of Syzygium cordatum are oval berries dark-purple when ripe.

The fruit of Syzygium cordatum growing at the eMalangeni Forest

Distribution and habitat

The distribution of Syzygium cordatum is from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal and northwards to Mozambique, Caprivi Strip and Northwards to include Kenya where it grows in swamp forest, forest, forest margins, in bush, in riverine thicket and, and in wet open grassy areas.

syzygium cordatum undoni water erry growing in grass land eMalangeni Forest at Kosi bay south Africa

Syzygium cordatum, umdoni, water berry growing in grass land at eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay Complex South Africa

Ecology

The flowers of Syzygium cordatum produce much nectar that attracts bees and other insect pollinators.

African Honey Bee Apis mellifera scutellata on the flower of Syzygium cordatum

Syzygium cordatum is by far the favourite tree for the epiphytic orchid Cyrtorchis arcuata to grow on.

trumpeter hornbill distributes the seeds of the kosi bay cycad encephalartos ferox under syzygium cordatum at eMalangeni forest at Kosi Bay Complex

The Trumpeter hornbill distributes the seeds of the Kosi Bay cycad Encephalartos ferox under Syzygium cordatum at eMalangeni Forest at Kosi Bay Complex

Syzygium cordatum is a food plant for larvae of the Apricot Playboy (Deudorix dinochares). These butterfly larvae feed on the Seeds within the pods. Kudu, Nyala, and Duiker eat the Leaves The emperor moths (Micragone cana) feed on the leaves. Their caterpillars are collected for food by the locals.

Crowned Hornbills are attracted to the caterpillars that occasionally infest the tree.

Syzygium cordatum is fire resistant.

Uses

Syzygium cordatum has many uses. The astringent fleshy fruit of Syzygium cordatum is edible, slightly acid in flavour, is eaten by children and adults, monkeys, bush-babies and birds. The berries are also used to make an alcoholic wine like drink. The powdered bark is used as a fish poison. In central Africa the tree is known as a remedy for stomach ache and diarrhoea. It is also used to treat respiratory ailments and tuberculosis.

The wood is light reddish brown to grey, works easily, is very durable in water which makes it exceptionally good for boat building. The wood smoke which is pleasantly aromatic is used to cure milk gourds

A purple dye made from the fruit is used to dye material used in weaving and basketmaking, the bark makes a red brown dye.

Good quality honey can be produced from the Flowers.

Guided excursions

Guided excursions in English, Zulu and German into the eMalangeni Forest and surrounding area including the nearby Tembe Elephant Park can be arranged. Please visit my websites for contact details.

Written by Michael Hickman on 1April 2021

please visit my websites

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Encephalartos ferox

Is a cycad that belongs to the plant family Zamiaceae.

The common English names for it are Kosi Bay cycad or Tongaland cycad

The local Zulu people of the area know it as either isitobhani or isigqiki somkhovu which is an interesting name ghost’s chair. isiqgiki means chair and somkhovu means ghost.

Encephalartos ferox growing in full sun

Description

Encephalartos ferox are very striking plants that stand out in the landscape which are usually single-stemmed with new suckers being produced from the base. The stems are subterranean. The fairly broad arching leaves are 1-2 meters long and bear numerous dark green, holly-like leaflets approximately 15cm long and 3-5cm wide. with distinctly lobed teeth on both the upper and lower margin.

The male and female cones are a deep bright red colour. As all other Encephalartos species the plants are either male or female and bear different cones. The female plants bear 1-5 ovoid cones, each 25-50 cm tall and 20-40cm in diameter. The female cones are sessile on the plant in that they have no stem. The male plants however bear 1-6 cylindrical cones per crown. These are longer 40-50cm and much narrower only 8-10cm in diameter. The male cones are held on short stems up to 3cm long. The seeds large bright red seeds are up to 5cm long and are covered in a glossy bright orange to red flesh.

Distribution and habitat

Encephalartos ferox is found growing in the coastal bush from northern KwaZulu Natal from Sodwana Bay northwards along the coast to Kosi Bay and then further north along the Mozambique coastline as far as Vilanculos.

In the Kosi Bay area and in particular in the area between the eMalangeni Forest and the Indian ocean Encephalartos ferox is found growing in deep nutrient poor sandy soils in large numbers, they grow predominantly in the shade of Syzygium cordatum trees both along the forest margin as well in wooded grassland dominated by Syzygium cordatum locally known as umdoni. Encephalartos ferox is locally abundant in this area often occurring within 50m of the beach. Rainfall in this subtropical and humid area varies from 1000 -1250mm per annum. Fires which are fairly frequent are an important element in this plant’s grassland habitat, they only cause superficial damage to the plant.

Encephalartos ferox grove growing in the light shade of Syzygium cordatum

Ecology

The fleshy seeds are eaten mostly by vervet monkeys, and birds in particular the Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator, they are attracted by the fleshy covering of the seed and are important agents of seed dispersal. In particular the hornbills play a very important role in their distribution.

Video of Kosi Bay cycads Encephalartos ferox under Syzygium cordatum trees at emalangeni forest

After eating the seeds the hornbills fly and sit in the Syzygium trees were the seeds are mostly deposited by them thus under nearly every Syzygium cordatum tree in some areas large numbers of Encephalartos ferox are found growing.

Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator is the main distributor of the seed of Encephalartos ferox in the eMalangeni forest area

Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator photo taken by and supplied by Geoff Nichols

Growing Encephalartos ferox

The Encephalartos ferox is a popular landscape and garden subject which grows best in full sun to light partial shade where it flowers best producing up to 800 seed in one cone.

Propagation is mostly by seed however the occasional sucker produced can be removed from the mother plant and grown. I have grown vast numbers of these cycads from seed germinated in a propagating unit with bottom heat set between 25 – 27 degrees centigrade with intermittent mist. The seeds were placed on the surface of a thin layer of well drained coarse sand mixed with a little peat moss. Once rooted and the first leaves had hardened, the seedlings were carefully removed and planted into small pots with the seed on the surface and only the root planted into the soil.