White-elder
Platylophus trifoliatus
Common names: Witels,, witte-els (Afr.)
SA Tree No: 141
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Size:
A small to large, evergreen tree, which may reach 30 m tall
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Bark:
The bark is vertically fissured, greyish initially, becoming brownish with age. Stems of really old trees may take on rather gnarled and grotesque forms. The wood varies in colour from pinkish brown or yellowish, with darker markings, to dark brown.
Leaf:
The leaves make this tree easily identifiable, as this is the only tree species in South Africa which has opposite, compound trifoliate leaves, with serrated (toothed) margins.
Flower:
Flowering is in midsummer, from December to February; the many small, sweetly scented flowers are white to cream-coloured and loosely clustered together on long-stalked bunches.
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Fruit:
Fruits are flattened, small capsules (about 10 mm long), pale yellow or russet to dark brown, that do not open to shed their seeds. Each capsule, contains 2, red-brown seeds.
Growth Habit:
Slow growing, these trees may become hundreds of years old, as a result of being able to re-sprout when the stems or branches get damaged. Many of the trees are multi-stemmed as a result of the trees ability to coppice. Single clean-stemmed trees are seldom found.
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Habitat:
It is found in moist, wet, protected forested kloofs mostly along rivers and streams. They have high moisture requirements and favour areas which are sufficiently humid and wet.
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Wildlife:
Honey bees and other insects are greatly attracted to the tree, as it produces copious nectar. The bees act as pollinators for these trees. Birds and wild pigs eat the fruit and seeds.
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Distribution:
Endemic to the Eastern and Western Cape, in an area stretching from Piketberg to Humansdorp.
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Uses:
The nectar of this tree collected by bees, makes a delicious, much sought after honey. It is considered to be the best bee tree in the areas in which it grows. As it has a fine, even grain, the sweetly scented wood, which is worked quite easily, is used for paneling, furniture, boat keels, boxes and picture frames, interior cabinet construction, veneers and window and door frames.
Growing it...
Grown successfully from cuttings I collected in Bain’s Kloof. I collected in mid-summer on New Year’s day when it was hot, but I kept the cuttings in cool shade next to the stream amongst the boulders and under shade of trees. They were at no time exposed to stress. I was very careful in selecting the cuttings. The tree was mature and in good condition. I looked for cuttings that showed active growth which I found near the ends of the branches. Most of the tree presented material where the tips were leafy, but the stem was short and often curved, with closely packed nodes and short internodes. I avoided these and looked behind the terminal growth for side shoots that were straight, with longer internodes and showed active and hardened-off growth, with the wood having changed from green to light brown. It was easy to detect these more vigorous, actively growing shoots and they were straight, which is necessary for better quality plants. Where possible, I selected heel cuttings, but tip cuttings also work. The cuttings were rooted in 50:50 milled bark and polystyrene which allows for good aeration. Used Seradix 2 rooting powder 2 000 ppm for semi hardwood cuttings and placed them on a heated bench 25 ºC, under mist to prevent desiccation.’
April Photo's
