Description
Forest Elder
Nuxia floribunda Benth
Common names: forest elder; forest nuxia; wild elder (Eng.); bosvlier; vlier (Afr.); umHlambandlazi, iThambo, ingobese, isanywana, umKhobeza (Zulu); iNgqota, isiKhali (Xhosa); motlhabare (Northern Sotho); mula-notshi; mpupumwa (Venda)
Family: Stilbaceae
Wildlife
- The flowers of the forest elder are seen to be self-pollinated.
- Bees are attracted to the nectar and pollen.
- Numerous other insects also effect pollination and their presence in turn attracts many insectivorous birds.
- Full flowering occurs usually every second year after which very large numbers of fruits develop.
- The leaves are edible and have been observed to be grazed by both wild game and stock.
Medicinal
- As a traditional Zulu medicine the bark is used as a strengthening medicine after a kraal (village) member had passed away.
- In other parts of Africa the leaves are recorded being used to treat coughs, colds, influenza, fevers, indigestion, infantile convulsions.
- The leaves have also been used in a range of African rituals (Hutchings et al. 1996).
- The nectar has been used to treat minor burns.
Practical Uses
- Nectar is produced in abundance thereby attracting an abundance of bees (and honey production)
- The wood has been used for fencing, general carpentry, furniture, turnery and historically in the construction of wagons.
- The bark is known to be rich in tannins at 5.71% (Hutchings et al. 1996).
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Image: sanbi.org
