Best-Known Species

• Of all the trees in Southern Africa, the baobab (Adansonia digitata) is the most known, most likely because of its substantial size. Measuring up to 65 feet in height and 39 feet in diameter, the Baobab is hard to miss. It has smooth bark with what appear to be "folds" along its trunk. They are often seen flowerless because the large white flowers it sprouts not lasting long on the branch.
  
  The other well-known species is the paperbark thorn (Acacia sieberiana var woodii), oftentimes replicated in paintings and seen in most movies taking place in Africa. This tree has a flat top and somewhat of an umbrella-type shape. Not as tall as the baobab, the paperbark's height reaches 29 feet on average and its branches can spread over 49 feet. It has yellow-brown bark that flakes off in papery pieces. The tree sprouts creamy white, puffy flowers in the spring.
  
  

Fruit Bearers

• The transvaal milkplum (Englerophytum magalismontanum), or "stamvrug" as its known in Afrikaans, is a small but popular tree. Only around 13 feet in height, the stamvrug has a knobby, grey stem and branches covered in short, brown hairs. It has reddish leaves that fold upwards, maturing to a dark green top and white underside. The tree bears deep red fruit in bunches along its trunk. Its popularity, however, comes from the milky latex within its stem and berries. It is sweet to the tongue with a sour aftertaste and is eaten by humans and animals alike. It can be used in jams, syrups and wine.
  
  The large-leaved rock fig (Ficus abutilifolia), growing mainly on rocky hills, reaches between 9 and 32 feet in height with a spreading crown and "exploring" roots; the roots are the best way to distinguish the rock fig because they grow over and between rocks, forming interesting shapes. It has smooth, white-yellow bark that exudes a similar latex as the stamvrug. The red figs it bears attract birds and antelope, and a decoction of the tree's leaves are often used for medicinal purposes.
  
  

Multi-Purpose Trees

• The bushveld gardenia (Gardenia volkensii subsp. spatulifolia) is a semi-deciduous (leave-shedding) tree that grows to a height of 9 feet when cultivated and 26 feet in the wild. It has pale grey bark that flakes off to reveal brown and green colors beneath. It can be recognized by its three-whorled dark green leaf arrangements, clustered at the end of its short branches. The bushveld bears fragrant white flowers from late winter to early summer. Its grey-green fruits with white dots make it useful to villagers; they are used to treat asthma, infertility, epilepsy and headache among other ailments.
  
  Finally, the semi-deciduous sausage tree (Kigelia africana) has been known to grow to a height of 82 feet. Its three-whorled leaves grow at the tips of its branches. The sausage tree's bark is light brown and smooth but flaky once mature. It grows dark red trumpet-shaped flowers in drooping sprays that bear huge, brown, sausage-shaped fruit. The fruit can be up to 3 feet long and 18 cm in diameter. Although toxic, this fruit is used medicinally to cure skin disorders, ulcers and sores. The sausage tree's wood is additionally used to form canoes in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.