Melkhoutboom; Melkbessie / umQwashu

Sideroxylon inerme inerme

Sapotaceae

This evergreen tree is commonly found in dune forests, coastal woodlands and forests along the shore of the Southern and Eastern Cape northwards towards Mozambique. It grows up to 15 m tall.  The leaves and fruit contain a milky latex – aptly named the milkwood.  In Greek sideros = iron, xulon = wood, referring to the hard wood historically used as timber. Ripe purple-black berries is eaten by birds, bats, monkeys and bush pigs. Small greenish white flowers with a strong, unpleasant smell are favoured by the Speckled mousebird, while the bark and roots have medicinal value in curing broken bones, treating fever and gall sickness in livestock. It is a protected species in South Africa. Three specimens have been proclaimed National Monuments including the 600yrs old Post Office Tree in Mossel Bay. 

 South Africa
Tree No: 579