Canthium inerme
Encyclopedia
Canthium inerme is a tough, adaptable medium-sized tree from South Africa
. It bears small edible fruits and has a variety of uses in traditional medicine.
It has a wide distribution, occurring from Cape Town
in the south, along the eastern coast of South Africa
as far as Mozambique
and inland as far as Zimbabwe
. This adaptable tree also occurs in a variety of habitats, ranging from afro-montane forest
to coastal grassland and bushveld
, and from sea-level up to 1700 m. In a garden, this tree attracts birds, while also serving as a possible security hedge. To assure a typical tree shape, prune off the lower branches.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It bears small edible fruits and has a variety of uses in traditional medicine.
It has a wide distribution, occurring from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in the south, along the eastern coast of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as far as Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
and inland as far as Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. This adaptable tree also occurs in a variety of habitats, ranging from afro-montane forest
Afromontane
Afromontane is a term used to describe the Afrotropic subregion and its plant and animal species common to the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula...
to coastal grassland and bushveld
Bushveld
The Bushveld is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa that encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of th Matabeleland North provinces of...
, and from sea-level up to 1700 m. In a garden, this tree attracts birds, while also serving as a possible security hedge. To assure a typical tree shape, prune off the lower branches.