Pictures of trees

The Marula tree is a large deciduous tree that grows up to 20 metres. Flowers from September to November and fruits from January to March. Distributed from Ethiopia, in the north, to Kwazulu-Natal in the South.

The fruit, very high in vitamin C, is used by humans as well as animals. Marula fruit is turned into an alcoholic drink and also a jelly eaten with meats. Elephants, Giraffe, Kudu, Eland, Waterbuck, Warthog, and Bushpig, all browse the leaves and fruit that falls to the ground. Baboons eat the fruit on the tree as well as fruit that has fallen. Birds such as the Blackheaded Oriole eat the flowers.

The seeds contain two or three edible nuts. These nuts are pressed and the oil extracted for cosmetic use. The fruit skin can be burnt and used as a coffee substitute.

Medicinal uses include a decoction of the bark to treat dysentery and diarrhoea. The bark infused in brandy is also used as a prophylactic for malaria. The inner bark is used to treat insect bites and irritations caused by hairy caterpillars. An essence made from the leaves is used to treat burns.



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