Red-stemmed Corkwood - Kloof Conservancy BioGuide
Height 5 - 10m
SA Tree Number 277
The Red-stemmed Corkwood is classified as a medium-sized tree. Stem upright and bark peeling in large papery, coppery-bronze disks. It is deciduous and the large compound leaves turn yellow before falling
The form is compact but with a sparse canopy.
Relatively fast growing.
Prefers sunny positions
This species belongs to the genus Commiphora of which over 200 are found in Africa.
Found in Mpumalanga, the eastern regions of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, where it grows on north-facing slopes.
Small greenish trumpet like flowers from October to December
The fruit is small berry-like and ripens to pinkish red with a black seed.
Attracts birds and insects.
Fences are easily grown from poles cut from this tree. Monkeys and bird eat the seeds. The soft heartwood is chewed to quench thirst.
Makes good bonsai tree
Wood is light and easily carved for spoons and is a favourite for a basket mould to strain Zulu beer.
This is one of the most iconic and easily identified trees in Krantzkloof NR due to its flaking copper-coloured bark.
It is one of two species of Commiphora found in KKNR the other being Commiphora woodii
A number of bird species and vervet monkeys feed on the seeds.
You will find many specimens on the Orange and Yellow trails and those along the Molweni River are particularly large.
The genus name Commiphora originates from the Greek words kommi meaning ‘gum' and phoros meaning ‘bearing'. The name was first used in 1797 by Jacquin who described the first specimen
The corkwoods are a fascinating group of trees, because of their bizarre appearance, but more importantly for their historical and biblical association as providers of the earliest healing balms and fragrances.
Myrrh from Commiphora myrrha is mentioned in the Bible as one of the three gifts presented to the Christ child by the Wise Men.
The Afrikaans common name "kanniedood" (literally "cannot die") refers to the exceptional ability of the plants to retain their water content and withstand drought for long periods.
SAPPI Tree Spotting Kwazulu Natal and Eastern Cape
isiZulu Translation: Simon Maphumulo
Izikhathi zonyaka Sivuthuza Amaqabunga ebusika
Ubude 5 - 10m
Conservation Isimo Onganakekelwe
Umbumbungane yisihlahla esiseqoqweni lezihlahla ezilingene ngobukhulu, sinesiqu esiya phezulu amagxolo abuza izimpephelezi ezilula.
Siyisihlahla esivuthuza amaqabunga ebusika sibe namaqabungana amancane amaningi endaweni yeqabunga elilodwa elijwayelekile ashintsha umbala abe phuzi ngaphambi kokuba avuthuke.
Sikhula siqoqane mase siba nomthunzi onezikhandlana, sikhula ngokushesha kancono kakhulu endaweni eselangani . Loluhlotshana lungaphansi kohlobo umhlunguthu etholakala ngezinhlobo ezingaphezulu kwamakhulu amabili.
Sitholakala endaweni yase Mpumalanga, empumalanga ye Kwa-Zulu Natali nempumalanga yekapa, la sitholakala sikhula ezintabeni ezihlatshwa ilanga.
Amagqamuzana aluhlazana njengoku qhakaza kusuka ku Mfumfu kuya kuzibandlela.
Izithelo amagqamuzana avuthwa abe bovana nenhlavu emnyama.
Ziheha izinyoni nezilwanyana, ukubiya kuvame ukuthi kwenziwe ngazo izingodo ezigawulwe kuso lesisihlahla.
Izinkawu nezinyoni zidla imbewu yaso.
Ukhuni lwaso oluthambile luyahlafunwa kukhameke amanzi uqede ukoma.
Uyakwazi nokusenza isihlahla esingakhuli.
Ukhuni lulula uyakwazi ukuligobisa lwakhe ukhezo futhi lukahle kakhulu akwakha amavovo okukhama utshwala besi Zulu.
Lesi esinye sezihlahla esilula ukusibona esiqiwini sase kransi klufu ngezimpephelezi ezinombala ezivukayo.
Si esinye sezinhlobo ezimbili Zombumbungane ezitholakala esiqiwini sase Kransi Klofu, omunye Umbumbungane oqinile, izinhlobo eziningi zezinyoni nezinkawu zithola ukudla embewini yaso isihlahla.
Kutholakala izinhlobo eziningi endleleni ebovu nephuzi eduze kwe Molweni imifula ngokujwayelekile mikhulu.
Igama lo Mbumbungane lidabuka egameni lesi Griki ngesilungu, igama lasetshenziswa okokuqala ngonyaka we Nkulungwane nama khulu ayisikhombisa Kanye nama shumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesikhombisa ngu Mnz Jacquin owayechaza isihlahla sokuqala.
Imbumbungane izihlahla ezihehayo. Umbumbungane uhlobo lwezihlahla ezibukeka kahle kodwa okubalulekile umlando wazo nangokuhlobana nebhayibheli zibe ikhambi lokulapha namakha.
Amakha atholakala ku Mbumbungane ayabalwa ebhayibhelini njengamanye amathathu eyisipho kumntwana u-Jesu esuka kwindoda ehlakaniphile.
Igama lesibhunu elijwayelekile I ’’Kanniedood’’ (okuchaza soze wafa )kuthathwa ngokuthi ukukwazi kwesihlahla ukugcina amanzi aso nokumelana nesomiso isikhathi eside.