Sigurwana Trees: The Iconic Kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis)

Welcome to the first blog which will hopefully turn into a long and detailed series of the trees of Sigurwana. As some of you may know we have recently opened up our Sigurwana Rock and Tree trails at the lodge. These are a few marked trails starting at the lodge and leading through the bush. We currently have 3 marked trails available for hiking, ranging in distance from just 1km up to 6.5km in length. These trails wind their way through the bush and lead the hiker through some magical rock formations and past some of the largest and oldest trees on the property.

In honor of these majestic trees, I will be writing a series of blogs showcasing the beauty of our flora up here in the Soutpansberg. Up first is the Kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis), this tree was the tree of the year in 2003 and is often quite easy to identify with its seed pods looking like nature’s version of a spiky, brown, and papery fried egg!

Description

The Kiaat tree has a wide-reaching but slightly flattened crown and sheds its leaves seasonally. Standing at an impressive height of around 15 meters, it’s known for its dark bark that adds to its distinctive appearance. Its glossy leaves are compound, elegantly cascading downward, creating a unique visual allure. During spring, these trees burst into an extravagant display of scented, yellow flowers, forming clusters that adorn the branches. However, this floral spectacle lasts for a relatively brief period—just two to three weeks—adding to its fleeting yet captivating charm. During this time baboons are attracted to these trees and are more than happy to devour the flowers in large quantities.

Origin of The Botanical Name

The genus got its name from a nod to its distinct seed pods. “Pter” comes from the Greek word for “wing,” while “carpus” means “fruit” in Greek. This combo birthed “Pterocarpus,” highlighting the hardened seed case encircled by a broad, filmy wing—earning the charming title of “wing fruit.” Interestingly, the ‘P’ in Pterocarpus remains silent, and it’s pronounced as “tero-car-pus.”

The strikingly red sap found within Pterocarpus is the reason behind its colloquial name, “bloodwood.” It’s a wood that shares some visual resemblance to the unrelated true teak from tropical East Asia (Tectona grandis), hence its other moniker, “wild teak.”

Ecology

The Kiaat tree plays a vital role in nature’s buffet! It serves as a primary food source for the bushveld charaxes butterfly’s larvae. Despite the seed pods’ sharp bristles, squirrels, baboons, and monkeys bravely munch on them. Even with these prickly defenses, game animals find the leaves irresistible, and believe it or not, elephants have been spotted giving these trees a gentle nudge, toppling them over!

What’s fascinating is how the tree ensures its offspring’s journey to the ground. As we said, the pods boast wavy, membranous wings, enabling them to gracefully float away from the tree in the wind ensuring a smooth landing for the next generation. It’s a tale of survival and interconnectedness in the animal kingdom, where different species rely on and interact with the Kiaat tree in their own unique ways.

Cultural Importance and Uses

This magnificent tree holds a multitude of uses, earning its value across Africa. Its exquisite timber, which is easily workable, becomes a prized material for crafting furniture, implements, and captivating curios. With its reddish-brown heartwood resistant to borers and termites while polishing beautifully, it’s a woodworker’s dream. What’s interesting is that even the pale yellowish sapwood finds its place in furniture and curios, adding a unique touch to the final article.

Kiaat’s versatility doesn’t stop there. Its stability makes it a prime choice for crafting canoes, thanks to its minimal shrinkage and swelling tendencies. In the history books of the old Transvaal, there’s a tale of minor-scale trade in this timber, often coinciding with seasonal cattle drives from Lowveld winter grazing back to the highveld in summer.

Beyond its practical uses, Kiaat weaves into cultural traditions. Its red sap becomes a natural dye and, in some areas, gets mixed with animal fat, creating a cosmetic used for both faces and bodies. There’s a belief in its mystical properties, particularly in curing blood-related issues, attributed perhaps to its striking resemblance to blood itself.

The Kiaat also boasts an extensive medicinal portfolio. Records mention its application in treating various ailments—from ringworm, stabbing pains, and eye problems to malaria, blackwater fever, stomach issues, and even aiding in lactation for nursing mothers.

Additionally, this tree serves as a living fence around the chief’s enclosure, adding a practical touch to its cultural significance. To top it off, its inner bark finds purpose in crafting traditional baskets, showcasing yet another facet of its resourcefulness in local communities.

Currently, the Kiaat tree is a protected tree in South Africa.

Conclusion

Embarking on our exploration of Sigurwana’s trees, this blog introduces our Sigurwana Rock and Tree trails, a gateway to discovering the wonders of the Soutpansberg’s lush flora. Focusing on the Kiaat tree, we’ve unveiled a snippet of its story—its elegance, ecological importance, and multifaceted cultural significance. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the captivating stories of the trees at Sigurwana, each unveiling a unique chapter in the floral story of the Soutpansberg and just waiting to be explored, by you, along our trails.