2024

TREE LIFE 527
JULY 2024

FUTURE EVENTS

PLANNED EVENTS:- JULY

Since inclement weather or other issues may vary our plans, WhatsApp Tony  Alegria on 0772 438 697 to join our WhatsApp group for last minute  updates.

 Saturday 6th July 2024:- visit to the National Botanical Gardens.  Meet at 8.30 in the main car park and join us for an interesting morning looking at trees that catch our interest.

Sunday 21st July 2024:-  visit to St. Michael’s Presentation Primary School – entrance on Ridgeway North opposite Borrowdale Primary School.  Drive into the grounds and park near the school buildings. Meet at 9.30 to explore the grounds of this school established over 70 years ago.

REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS OUTINGS

NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN OUTING SATURDAY 1ST JUNE  2024

Members preparing to be puzzled

By Tony Alegria, photos by Jim Dryburgh & Mark Hyde

 

Present on a windless, cool sunny day were the ladies Dawn Siemers, Dido de Swardt, Barbara Maarsdorp and Sonja Messick – Sonja became a member on the day. We had been to Sonja’s home some time ago on a tree outing to Umwinsidale.  The men present were Charles Crawshaw, Jan van Bel, Jim Dryburgh, Karl van Laeren, Ken Dixon, Mark Hyde, Stuart Wood and myself.

We first looked at the Acacia sieberiana at the car park as it has the most paper bark I have ever seen on any acacia. Mark noted that many of these trees are completely void of any paper bark.  I have also noticed that when mature, many acacias no longer have thorns as they no longer have to protect themselves from being eaten.

Corymbia (Eucalyptus) torelliana

 

We then looked at the Corymbia (Eucalyptus) torelliana which appears to have some flowers all year round. Like most eucalyptus, these white flowers have no petals and have many, many stamens. The other odd thing about this particular species is that it appears to always have more juvenile leaves than adult leaves! It’s gumnuts (fruit) are very nice looking miniature empty barrels. I wanted to compare these gumnuts with those of the Eucalyptus polyanthemos but was unable to find any of the tiny, cone-shaped fruit of the latter.

Ficus stuhlmannii

Karl wanted to see a fig tree we had had endless problems identifying it as it just wasn’t typical of the species. He has quite a few fig trees growing at his surgery so he is familiar with quite a lot of them. He identified the tree as a Ficus stuhlmannii. The tree was labelled Ficus glumosa, so we need to change that label!

 

After looking at a few other trees we came across a Cordia mukuensis with smooth, blotched guava-like looking bark.  The interesting thing about these trees is that when two branches touch each other, they often fuse together just as the strangler fig roots do.  To compare, we then went and had a look at the similar in appearance Cordia monoica (old name C. ovalis), the Sandpaper cordia which had greener looking branches and two beautifully fused branches.

The morning was kind of strange in that there were little groups forming every now and again and lots of discussions taking place. This often happens but not quite as much as on this day!

 

MAIN OUTING – SUNDAY 16TH JUNE 2024 – A VISIT TO 25 WAVELL ROAD (FAWLTY TOWERS)
THE EXTENSIVE GARDEN OF RHETT BUTLER

By Mark Hyde; Photographs by Mark Hyde and Bart Wursten (https:// zimbabweflora.co.zw/)

Tony was unfortunately sick, so I led the group and was supported with much useful input from Rhett. Eight people attended: Ann Sinclair, Busi Malunga, Dawn Siemers, Lorraine Regadas, Karl van Laeren, Rhett Butler, Vic Gifford and me.

As far as I am aware, this is the fifth time the Tree Society has visited Fawlty Towers; earlier visits were 24 May 2008, 26 March 2011, 28 June 2014 and 23 May 2015.  It has therefore been 9 years since the last one.

Fawlty Towers Garden

Fawlty Towers in Wavell Road consists of 10 acres of land, two of which are indigenous miombo woodland. Rhett’s main interest is in moths and butterflies, and he bought this unusually large suburban plot in 1980 and planted many indigenous trees to encourage them. For example, tree species in the family Annonaceae have been planted for Swordtail butterflies and species of Rutaceae for Swallowtail butterflies.

This sort of area, both wild and cultivated, with native, introduced and planted species is often very rich in plant life with much interest and many challenges to identification.

We struck the only day recently with cloudy skies, but the sun shone occasionally through the patchy stratocumulus and it was quiet, mild and pleasant. The vegetation was very dry, typical of the time of year.

Our first tree, near to where we parked the cars, was Sclerocroton integerrimus (formerly known as Sapium integerrimum), the Tallow tree. This is a member of the Euphorbia family with alternate, simple leaves which are very shallowly toothed. This is perhaps the explanation of the species name; integer means “whole” and integerrimus is a superlative version, “the most whole” implying not at all divided. Certainly, compared to Shirakiopsis elliptica (formerly also in the genus Sapium), the teeth were barely visible. This tree was fruiting copiously with 6-lobed fruit each lobe bearing a rounded projection.

Does this species have milky latex? The literature is evasive on this point. Rhett’s trees were most certainly not producing any, but the leaves were dried up and tending to fall off, so it was not a great time of year to check. I also tested the trees in the Botanic Gardens on Saturday and although they were greener, no latex was produced. This is very different to the copious white latex of Shirakiopsis elliptica.

Sclerocroton integerrimus

Sclerocroton integerrimus is a rare species in Zimbabwe, confined to the Eastern Districts and I have never seen it in the wild. It is also a rare species in cultivation. In addition to these trees of Rhett’s, there are some in the National Botanic Garden and in 2021 it was offered for sale by Emerald Seedlings.

Amongst the planted Annonaceae were Annona senegalensis and Monodora junodii var. junodii. The former, the Wild custard-apple, is a not uncommon species of lower altitudes in Zimbabwe. It is however, rare in cultivation. Apart from Rhett’s plants, I have records from the National Botanic Garden and it is reported in Haavisto-Meier, H (2018) to be cultivated for its edible fruit in Dzivarasekwa.

Incidentally, the paper by Haavisto-Meier is quite interesting as it describes the fruit trees planted in a high-density suburb of Harare, a place which we do not often visit.

Monodora junodii, Green apple, is an extraordinary plant in flower with its reddish-brown petals. but these only appear in November and were not visible on this occasion. The fruit is also somewhat unusual in being a simple spherical object, not compound as are many other species of Annonaceae. One dried-up fruit was spotted.

Clausena anisata
(Horsewood or Perdepis)

The planted Rutaceae included Clausena anisata and Vepris lanceolata (formerly V. undulata).

Clausena anisata, known politely as Horsewood and less politely as Perdepis, is a pinnate-leaved species with small white flowers and red to purple fleshy berries. Opinions vary on the pleasantness of the smell produced by crushing the leaves. In the wild, the Zimbabwe distribution is basically the Eastern Highlands although it extends westwards somewhat along the main watershed and into the southern mist belt. It is occasionally planted in Harare gardens where it does quite well.

Vepris lanceolata (formerly V. undulata), the White ironwood, has 3-foliolate leaves with very noticeable wavy-edged leaflets. Its world distribution is from Kenya to South Africa, including Mozambique, but not actually including Zimbabwe. It is an attractive species which has found a place in several Harare gardens.

Rhett showed us Vangueria randii, the Anthill wild medlar. This is a widespread species in Zimbabwe often found as the name suggests on termite mounds. It differs from V. infausta which is much more common, in having hairless leaves which have prominent white main veins beneath. Within Harare, I only have it from the Mukuvisi Woodland. Rhett commented that he had originally planted one tree but this species had then taken off and spread around the grounds under its own steam.

Grewia stolzii
(the Green-petalled raisin)

A  similar thing had happened with Grewia stolzii (the Green-petalled raisin). Despite the name, this is one of the white-flowered species of Grewia; it’s a (relatively) high-altitude and high rainfall species which occurs naturally around Harare, for example at Cleveland Dam.  The flowers are relatively large and it is quite an attractive shrub for the garden. It is also difficult to separate from the very similar, also white-flowered Grewia pachycalyx.

Another interesting plant in the garden was the prickly climber Capparis tomentosa, the Woolly caper-bush. The woody base of the stem had prickles borne on stout raised bosses.

This is only a brief selection of the very many interesting species we saw. For me, one of the main take away points is that planting indigenous trees even in a small garden can help to maintain the local moth and butterfly populations and presumably other insects.

We were there for 3 hours and still did not manage to reach the indigenous woodland; a return visit, perhaps at a time when more trees are flowering, would be very nice.

Over tea, Rhett showed us some beautifully mounted specimens of the larger moths (Emperors).

Rhett also showed me some exercise books of plant specimens he had collected at Fawlty Towers and which had been identified by Bob Drummond. One of these was a rare species, Rubia horrida, which I have never seen, although there are records of it from Harare and other areas in Zimbabwe.

Our great thanks go to Rhett for acting as our guide and for providing tea and cake at the end.

References:  Haavisto-Meier, H. (2018). Peri-urban agroforestry as a source of livelihood: a case study on fruit trees in Dzivarasekwa in Harare. Master’s thesis. University of Helsinki.

OTHER NEWS AND SHORT NOTES

THE HEDGE PLANTS
Identification of the Hedge plants by Mark Hyde.
Compiled by Mary Toet

Location: Fairways, Bodle Avenue, Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Co‑ordinates  ‑17.827437, 31.065844 to ‑17.8277891, 31.066293.
Date 7 April 2024
A 70 m stretch of the Hedge plus open ground of half a metre between the Hedge and the electric fence.

GRASSES

  1. Setaria homonyma broad leaf grass
  2. Eragrostis barrelieri grass grows in paving stones
  3. Chloris pycnothrix grass with fine seeds
  4. Cynodon dactylon Couch grass, 5 seeded racemes (digitate) spikes

GROUND COVER (COULD BE WEEDY)

  1. Oxalis corniculata small yellow oxalis
  2. Dichondra micrantha small round leaved ground cover, common throughout gardens in Harare
  3. Alternanthera caracasana Paper thorn, sticks to feet and fur
  4. Euphorbia prostrata tiny greyish plant, grows in the cracks in stonework
  5. Dyschoriste nagchana blue flowers
  6. Indigofera spicata found in lawns and flowerbeds, bunches of bean-like seedpods
  7. Guilleminea densa not prickly like paper thorn and larger
  8. Gomphrena celosioides cone shaped tight white flower heads that lie on the ground

WEEDS

  1. Tagetes minuta Khaki Weed with aromatic glands and yellow tubular flowers. Repellent to parasitic eelworm.
  2. Bidens pilosa Blackjack, seeds dispersed by mammals
  3. Galinsoga parviflora chick weed or gallant soldier, whole heads eaten by birds
  4. Sida rhombifolia round flower heads, 4 seeds, rhomboid leaves
  5. Taraxacum officinale Dandelion, yellow composite flowers, pappus of hairs which are wind distributed
  6. Apium leptophyllum Dwarf celery, seed heads are umbels, pungent aniseed taste
  7. Euphorbia hirta tiny male and female flowers clustered at the ends, milky
  8. Sonchus oleraceus Sow thistle, European in origin
  9. Malvastrum coromandelianum looks like Sida but has orange yellow foliage
  10. Lepidium bonariense Pepper Wort single alternating seeds on the stem from Argentina
  11. Amaranthus lividus subspecies polygonoides leaf tips notched, white markings on the leaves
  12. Erigeron sumatrensis wind dispersed seeds, tall plant, originating from Sumatra
  13. Dicliptera verticillata whorls of small achenes, winter flowering
  14. Tridax procumbens stems bend downwards. Attractive to butterflies. An exotic invasive
  15. Boerhavia diffusa ground weed, small flowers. Sticky fruits dispersed by birds

Plumbago auriculata –
tiny ear like leaves at the
base of some of the leaf

FLOWERS

  1. Plumbago auriculata blue flowers attract butterflies. Has tiny ear like leaves at the base of some of the leaf stalks
  2. Mirabilis jalapa Four o’clock plant. Opens at four pm. Purple tubular trumpet flowers. It can have different colours on the same branch. Pollinator may be a hawk moth but the sticky berries are eaten by birds and wiped from their beaks on to another tree

CREEPERS

  1. Asparagus sprawling Asparagus at the base of the Hedge
  2. Cardiospermum grandiflorum Balloon Vine, inflated fruits, a creeper

 HEDGE TREES & SHRUBS

  1. Jacaranda mimosifolia an invasive exotic with wind dispersed seed
  2. Ligustrum lucidum Glossy Privet (lucidum = shining). Abundant and robust
  3. Lantana camara flowers visited by bees and butterflies, fruit eaten and dispersed by birds, a very robust plant, aphids on new growth.
  4. Psidium guajava scale on the underside of leaves attended by ants
  5. Citharexylum spinosum Lady Chancellor bush, no spines, attractive orange leaves, sexes separate, male planted female rare in gardens, berries dispersed by birds
  6. Searsia lancea a native tree with long leaves planted extensively and used for the Hedge
  7. Phoenix reclinata Palm, stunted growth, work of the resident squirrel. There are numerous palms in the area
  8. Tecomaria capensis Cape Honeysuckle, orange flowers
  9. Casimiroa edulis Mexican Apple, naturalized with aromatic edible, attractive fruit.  The citrus smell attracts birds and butterflies particularly the yellow and black swallow tail butterfly
  10. Celtis sinensis thickened base, exotic
  11. Pyracantha sp. Fire Thorn, has spines, orange, red and yellow fruit eaten by birds
  12. Toona ciliata Cedrela, very thick bole, possible an original Hedge plant
  13. Thespesia garckeana Azanza or Snot apple, big slimy yellow fruit eaten by birds

 

PARASITE (NOT ACTUALLY PART OF THE AREA BUT OF INTEREST)

  1. Globimetula mweroensis Crimson mistletoe, A red flowered parasite, visited by butterflies, found growing on a nearby Privet. Also on Pride of India and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia).


CONCLUSION

The thick stems at ground level suggest the Hedge may have originally been planted as Privet or Toona, probably Privet as it has numerous black fruit, attractive to birds. There are only two indigenous trees in the Hedge, Searsia lancea and Thespesia garckeana (Azanza).  The 44 different hedge plants collected show the influence of birds in establishing a unique Ecological System.

It is a natural habitat because no pesticides or fertilizers are used and the birds are not fed. The resident bird population comprises bulbuls, blue wax bills, red wax bills, bronze mannikins and heuglin’s robin (white-browed robin-chat!).  Visiting birds include  fiscal shrikes, arrow marked babblers and fork tailed drongos.

EDITORS NOTE:  This provides a useful checklist as to what could be found in any Harare garden.

 

GIVING BACK TO THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM AND BOTANIC GARDEN

As some of you know, Tony Alegria, Jan van Bel and I have been labelling trees in the Botanical Garden. Recently, we have realised that there are many species growing in the Garden not represented by specimens in the National Herbarium. So as part of the labelling exercise a start has been made on collecting, drying and mounting specimens. It is an opportunity to collect specimens of even quite well-known species in flower and fruit.

This is a sample herbarium sheet of Haplocoelum foliolosum in flower and a close-up of the label.

Thanks to Chris Chapano for helping us with our questions and to Ann Sinclair for helping with the mounting.

This will be an ongoing exercise and will also help clear the backlog of specimens collected on Tree Society outings destined for the National Herbarium.

 

Besides paying for fumigation of the National Herbarium, it is another way in which members can get up close to the plants as well as contributing to a National data-base of botanical knowledge; if anyone is interested in getting involved, do let me know.
Mark Hyde
WhatsApp 0772 233 751;
email mahyde@gmail.com

Tony and Mark at work

Work in progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS: If anyone has any old kitchen weights or similar with a flat bottom, not in use, they can be used here!

I’VE BEEN ASKED TO DO A WRITE UP!

Although scary this seems to be a great way to get your head around 4 or 5 of the trees seen.  Here are some hints:

  1. This is a great way of learning new trees, whether or not you are a beginner.
  2. When taking notes, don’t worry about the exact spelling of a tree – you can always look it up in a book or on the internet.
  3. If the outing is to a place you like the sound of, volunteer to do the write-up. If possible, volunteer in advance.  Then if you have time and can arrange with one of the more experienced members do a personal visit in advance, pick out some of the trees that are easily identified (that way you look like an expert!).
  4. Make notes. I have seen several ways of making notes:-
    • A small notebook with a page per species and a leaf inserted as a reminder;
    • Writing on the leaf of a larger specimen;
    • Taking a photo and using a phone to make notes (carefully matching the photo to the note);
    • All of the above.
  1. Ask lots of questions on the outing. There’s no such thing as a stupid question.  If you are not sure of something, no matter how silly it may seem, ask the question.  If you don’t know the answer, there’s many people who also won’t know.
  2. Don’t worry about missing a tree or two while you make notes of something that interested you.
  3. If you have a camera or cell phone take pictures – leaves, fruit,  seed, bark, roots, the actual tree.  They help with your writeup.  If you don’t have the means to take pictures, ask someone else.
  4. If you are not sure about what you saw, ask the leader.
  5. When you have done the write up, get someone who knows all those Latin names to read it through.

After the writeup you will find that those trees you write about become more memorable for next time!

PS: Note Latin names always start with a capital but the rest of the name is lower case including the species name.

I am delighted with all the articles that have been sent through to me and hope to include them all in the next few issues.

Many thanks for these and please keep them coming.

Linda

TREE SOCIETY COMMITTEE AND CONTACTS

Chairman                             Tony  Alegria                tonyalegria47@gmail.com       0772 438 697
Vice Chairman                   Mark Hyde                     mahyde@gmail.com                 0772 233 751
Honorary Treasurer         Bill Clarke                     wrc@mweb.co.zw                      0772 252 720
Secretary                               Teig  Howson               teig.howson@gmail.com          0772 256 364
Venue Organiser                Ann Sinclair                 jimandannsincs@zol.co.zw      0772 433 125
Committee Member          Jan van Bel                   jan_vanbel@yahoo.com           0772 440 287
Committee Member          Ryan Truscott              ryan.kerr.truscott@gmail.co   0772 354 144
Committee Member          Sibusiso Malunga       busimalunga@yahoo.com        0775 889 898

Tree Life Editor                   Linda Hyde        Lmharwin@pentact.co.zw        0772 232 075
Tree Society Website          https://www.treesociety.org.zw/
Tree Society Facebook       https://www.facebook.com/groups/ztreesociety/
Flora of Zimbabwe:             https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/
Flora of Tropical Africa:    https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOTA

 

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