Trees of the Year 2005

Common Tree: False Cabbage Tree

National Tree Number: 566
Botanical name: Schefflera umbellifera
Other names: Basterkiepersol, umSengane, umSengembuzi, Motshetshepudi, umGezisa, umRongo

Description:
A medium-tall evergreen tree of 10 to 15m high, with a straight and cylindrical stem. Dense and rounded crown.

This tree belongs to the Araliaceae or Cabbage tree family. The clusters of large leaves have been compared to cabbages in the descriptions of early botanists, hence the name “cabbage tree”. The scientific name honors the German botanist GC Scheffler of the 18th century.

The fruits are much favoured by birds, and the leaves are used to treat ailments such as rheumatism and malaria. Seedlings only grow from seeds that passed through the digestive tracts of birds or other animals. Often propagated by nurseries, these trees make attractive garden plants but cannot tolerate severe frost. The bark is dark grey, longitudinally fissured, smooth and resinous.

The leaves are compound digitate leaves with 3 to 5 oblong leaflets (9 to 18 cm long). The leaflets are leathery glossy and dark green above, paler beneath, with wavy or serrated margins, and clustered on long leaf stalks.

Uses:
Decorative shade tree or container plant. The bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The wood is very light and therefore suitable for fruit boxes or matches, but it is seldom used.

Distribution:
Occurs in the margins of forests and in bush clumps from the coast to high altitudes. The natural distribution range in South Africa is limited to the eastern parts of the country from northern Limpopo Province to the dry coastal parts of the Tsitsikamma forests in the south.