Description
African Holly
Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Common names: African holly, Cape holly, wild holly, water tree (Eng.); waterboom, waterhout, without (Afr.); monamane (Northern Sotho); iPhuphuma (Zulu), umDuma (Xhosa); liBota (Swazi); phukgu, phukgile (Southern Sotho); mutanzwa-khamelo (Venda
Wildlife
- In the red fruit attracts many species of birds living in the Garden Route Knysna Forests.
- In the Knysna Forests, elephants show a particular liking for the leaves.
Practical Uses
- When the leaves are rubbed together they give a lather and used as a substitute for soap by woodcutters in the past and by the Zulus (reflected in the name iPhuphuma, meaning ‘it foams out‘).
- The Venda have also used the lather for washing purposes (translated means ‘milk-pail washer‘).
- The wood has been used in the construction of wagons for buckboards and spokes and for heels of ladies shoes.
- The wood is a popular choice for handles and furniture.
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Image: growwild.co.za