Traditional or medicinal uses: Fruits are high in vitamin C and are eaten raw or made into a jelly; marula fruit are used to make beer and in the production of two liqueurs - and can be used as an insecticide; the fruit stone contains two or more seeds, which are delicious and their high protein content makes them a delicacy; the oil extracted from the seeds is an excellent skin moisturiser and effective sunblock; the bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea. Traditional or medicinal uses: The wood is of a very high quality and has a beautiful red-brown colour; it has been used to make railway sleepers, furniture and flooring. Long-term commitments are required to ensure protection, monitoring and management during the long periods of nurturing new indigenous tree species. Ray Perry and Amos Maramba specialize in the propagating of Zimbabwean Indigenous Trees. Animal associations: Giraffe favour the leaves of the acacias because of their high protein content; elephants often strip the bark in late winter when stored nutrients are being mobilised from the roots and transported to the leaves; tree squirrels and rats enjoy the gum; honey bees are fond of the nectar from the flowers; the hemiparasitic herbs from the family Loranthaceae are commonly found growing in this tree. These species need to be adaptable and suitable to the decade-long regional conditions. Animal associations: Many small mammals, insects, birds and reptiles live in or on baobabs because the textured bark and hollows provide suitable habitats; the trees are pollinated by fruit bats; the fruit is eaten by baboons; elephants strip and eat the bark. plants.3 The Akan mind perceives the universe as a ‘forest of symbols’ in which the sacred ... Indigenous Beliefs and Practices in Ecosystem Conservation: Response of the Church 147 helped save the environment and our ancestors rarely died of pollution-related ailments. This clearly underscores the role of forest conservation and restoration. These fruit bearing hardwoods also help us to dismiss the myth that only exotic trees are fruit bearing, with indigenous fruits not receiving the prominence they deserve. Traditional or medicinal uses: The beautiful pinkish-brown colour makes it a sought-after carving wood; it is used particularly in the carvings of hippos found at the Victoria Falls craft village; the scarlet flesh surrounding the seeds is removed in warm water and either eaten or made into a nourishing drink while the seeds themselves are roasted, pounded and then eaten as a porridge. Indigenous hardwoods have managed to survive in the face of climate change and it is advisable to take lessons from their survival as test cases. Most of the central and western plateau is covered with bushveld (thorny acacia savanna) and miombo (dry open woodland), while the drier lowlands of the south and southeast are characterised by thorny scrub and baobabs. The Seed Centre is there to provide advisory services to its clients which include: • Seed handling • Germination techniques • Seed pre-treatment and methods of breaking seed dormancy untangle your roots from these amazing details on 15 of Zimbabwe’s indigenous trees. 13 likes. As such, when we talk of adaptation, resilience and climate solutions, African traditional forests have demonstrated resilience in all respects. Submitted by Gretchen on Wed, 07/16/2014 - 13:03 . The cassia (pictured above) and the flame tree (in the background) are characteristic of Victoria Falls and come into full bloom in early summer. Agric production key to Zim’s food security – Ireti Adesida: Agric production key to Zim’s food security... 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Tongaat-Govt joint venture to create over 10 000 jobs, Ntuliki gets emotional send off in Gwanda, Customs to acquire modern liquid testing devices, ‘Songs of Sankofa’ opens at First Floor Gallery. Mungenge (Sh) Muchiva; Umtshibi (Nd) Is it because they take long to grow or they are just brushed aside as not suitable enough to contribute to climate action strategies? Sibota (Tonga: Zimbabwe) Sickle bush (English) Sickle-leaved albizia (English) Sierra Madre lobelia (English) (Cultivated species) Sihane (Hlengwe) Sihane (Hlengwe) Siila (Tonga: Zimbabwe) Silk floss tree (English) (Cultivated species) Silk-cotton tree (English) (Cultivated species) Silk-rubber (English) Silky acacia (English) Silky autumn grass (English) Indirectly and covertly, indigenous hardwoods have withstood the test of time, since time immemorial and have demonstrated resilient ecological footprints, even in the face of drought, hunger and climate variability. With all climate change models predicting extreme temperature changes in the sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Southern Africa region, planning our forest survival with the indigenous hardwoods in mind is the way to go. Pictured right: Exotic Cassia at Ilala Palms Lodge. Animal associations: The animals most associated with the msasa are the bright orange caterpillars of the msasa moth Pachymeta robusta, which is very gregarious and usually congregates in large masses on the tree. There is no other green discourse, or climate related linguistic inventions, which can undermine the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of the traditional forest reserves. Check out our Zim top fruits below. The other tree species is the Marula, and the name is derived from its fruit, which produces wine called Amarula, a traditional brew, fruits and jam. While documenting edible indigenous/wild food plants in Zimbabwe betw een 2001 and 2004, I started thinking reflexively (and reflecting) on m y practices and that of other indigenous . The Tree Society of Zimbabwe does not claim to have any expertise in any of these areas, we refer you to nurseries and where we think there is help/ advice offered. There are two types of trees Indigenous which grow naturally in Zimbabwe and Exotic which come from other countries Examples of Inigenous Trees in Zimbabwe Msasa, Mnondo, Mobola Plum, Bloodwood, Monkeybread and Cabbage Tree As a hardwood tree, Mopani has a wide range of uses, ranging from firewood, charcoal, fencing poles, railway sleepers and floor tiles. Which of these indigenous fruits are your favorites? Animal associations: The leaves have a high nutritional value and are eaten by most browsers - even when fallen; they are particularly favoured by elephants; the insect Pytelus grossus sucks sap from this tree (among others), extracts the sugars and sheds water as a by-product - when the trees have large populations of these insects, the water dropped creates a localised "rain" beneath the tree. Traditional or medicinal uses: The straight and elastic young branches are used to make snares; because the wood is termite-resistant it is often used for fencing poles; the bark is used in tanning leather and the inner bark makes a good twine; the roots are used to make an eye-wash and are also used in the treatment of pneumonia; a decoction from the tree is also considered an effective treatment for diarrhoea; it is a controversial bilharzia cure whereby the roots are mixed with the entrails of a blister beetle to treat the patient, but healers acknowledge that the side effects are often bad; the leaves provide a blue dye while the leaf hairs are used to glaze pottery; a stick from this tree is often stuck in the floor of a shrine to facilitate communication with the ancestral spirits. The role of indigenous knowledge systems in supporting biodiversity conservation cannot be undermined. Although hardwood trees are not The dark brown to grey bark is fissured and flaking.Birds, such as the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe, enjoy probing under the bark for insects. Last Friday, 100 people arrived at 16.00 hrs and led by the Director of the airport, planted 100 mixed indigenous trees before 17.00 hrs. On these outings there is the opportunity to get to know the many different, mainly indigenous, tree species to be found, since recognition is the first step towards encouraging an interest in and the conservation of trees. Animal associations: Birds eat the bright red pulp around the seed. Mususu (Sh); Umangwe (Nd) ... Pine Trees Day Nursery. Mopani leaves are thin and butterfly shaped, hence they are a favourite for cattle in Beitbridge and some parts of Gwanda, in Matebeleland South and they improve the quality of beef. L.J. Top 5 Indigenous Trees that are Drought Resistant. May 27, 2019. mukuyu tree. Animal associations: Although not very nutritious, the leaves are browsed; the twigs are eaten by giraffe and elephants - where there are high populations of these, the trees are extensively damaged during feeding; the galls on the twigs are caused by a gall midge larva - the gall protects the developing larva and it eventually emerges as an adult through an aperture at the base of the gall. The Nguni African legend says the thorns tell us something about ourselves - that we must look ahead to the future ... but we must never forget where we have come from. Nowadays, the main threat to these indigenous hardwoods, is human greed and expansionist tendencies in the form of commercial logging, mainly from foreign companies. Characteristics: The bloodwood is a beautiful tree with a characteristic flat crown spreading from a straight stem with deeply-fissured bark; in winter the golden, round and flat, medallion-like pods (which contain the seeds) are very conspicuous. The mopane or mopani (Colophospermum mopane) tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200-1,150 m, in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. Characteristics: Distinctive, butterfly-shaped leaves that are bright green when young and turn red and yellow in winter before dropping; bark has pronounced longitudinal fissures; depending on soil conditions and climate, it may remain a small shrub or reach heights of 25m; forms dense, single species stands; it is the dominant tree in the basalts around Victoria Falls. (Terminalia sericea) This study therefore aims to investigate the current status of indigenous vegetables and the role they play in household food security and income generation in Zimbabwe. Characteristics: Normally a medium-sized, upright tree with deeply fissured bark that grows in deep, sandy soils; it has unique silvery-blue leaves and, when in fruit, it bears conspicuous, pinkish, single-winged seeds. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Characteristics: Easily recognised by the very fat knobs on the trunk and branches, particularly in younger trees; in late winter and early spring, the bare tree produces an abundance of creamy, white, flower spikes which are exquisitely fragrant; the leaflets are larger than in other acacias and noticeably round. Bloodwood (Mubvamaropa/ Umvagazi)- Pterocarpus angolensis Mopane ( Colophospermum mopane) Baobab ( Adansonia digitata) Msasa ( Brachystegia spiciformis) Mukamba (Afzelia quanzensis) Blackwood ( Dalbergia melanoxylon) Red Mahogany (Khaya anthotheca -syn. Characteristics: Tall, deciduous tree with characteristically grey bark that flakes in patches and resembles a jigsaw puzzle; when leafless, the branches appear fat while the tree acquires a blueish tinge when in leaf; dioecious (sexes on separate trees); female tree produces a profusion of golf-ball-sized green fruits which become yellow when ripe. This is a sister site to the Flora of Botswana, Caprivi, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia websites, which together cover the Flora Zambesiaca area.. Home > Nurseries > Zimbabwe. Both indigenous and exotic tree species are used as shade trees. One of the pairs points robustly outward and forward while the other curves back and inwards in the opposite direction. An inventory of indigenous vegetables by agro-ecological regions and seasonality will … Its membership includes doctors, nurses, chemists, environmental experts and … Forests provide a broad range of ecosystemic services, and it is also in the forests that we source for food resources and livelihoods. (Lonchocarpus capassa) Biodiversity is an ecological natural state of resources that can benefit livelihoods. Mubvamaropa (Sh); Umvagazi (Nd) The vegetation is uniform throughout Zimbabwe. This site provides information about the flowering plants and ferns of Zimbabwe. Animal associations: Young branches are sometimes browsed by animals; seeds are popular with birds and are also fed upon by insects. The tree is a major source of food for Mopani caterpillars, otherwise known as Amacimbi or Madora in Ndebele and Shona respectively. I got the chance to drive through a vegetated area, taking a break from the bustling city pavements and potholed tar roads. 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