Limpopo celebrates indigenous trees to boost tourism
Limpopo
Annually, September marks Heritage Month, which is celebrated in conjunction with the commemoration of the National Abor Week through showcasing the nation’s diverse culture and heritage to promote tourism in the province.
To continue with the celebration during this month, the Limpopo Province is celebrating the heritage of indigenous trees with a tree called ‘Boscia albitrunca’.
The tree is often called the ‘Tree of Life’ as it offers sustenance to both humans and animals, with common names such as the ‘Shepherd’s Tree’ in English, ‘Witgat’ in Afrikaans, ‘Mohlopi’ in Sepedi and Muthobi in Tshivenda.
In description, the tree is a small to medium in size, evergreen, with a height of 7 to 10 metres smooth white or whitish grey trunk. Its conservation status is protected.
The tree is found in the drier parts of Southern Africa including Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, North West, Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, including in the neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The name Boscia honours a French professor of agriculture, Louis A.G Bosc (1777-1850), while albitrunca (albi means white, trunca means trunk which refers to the whitish trunk of the species).
Looking at its ecosystem, the tree attracts a lot of insects as pollinators, it is also a source of food for various mammals, birds, butterflies, livestock and humans.
The dry roots of the tree when crushed can make porridge, baked roots are crushed to make coffee or chicory and boiled roots make syrup. The roots can also be used to make beer and further treats ailments such as haemorrhoids, stomach cramps and headache.
Its fruits can be used to make juice and in traditional dishes. The wood of the tree is heavy and is used to make household utensils and furniture. It is believed that if the wood is burnt, the cows will produce only bull calves. The leaves are nutritious good in vitamin A, C and protein. Infusion of the leaves is used to treat eye infections in cattle.
The tree bark is eaten by elephants while other parts of the tree are used by healers as it is believed to have magical values. The flowers attracts masses of insects which are the pollinators.
The Boscia albitrunca tree can be planted with seeds or tree cuttings. It survives in dry, hot and drought areas.
In Sepedi there is a saying, “Tlala ya Mohlopi”, referring to a lot of benefits the tree has in famine times.
