Description
Bolusanthus speciosus, the tree wisteria or Vanwykshout (Afrikaans), is an erect small tree with spectacular blue to mauve pea-shape flowers. It grows in Kwazulu-Natal, the northerly provinces of South Africa and in some neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and Angola. The tree is deciduous for a short period in spring, multi-stemmed and produces flat, narrow pods at the end of summer and in autumn.
Leaves and pods are browsed by game. Roots and bark are sometimes used to treat stomach disorders in traditional medicine. The stems are used for fence posts as the wood is termite resistant. The wood is also hard, good for furniture manufacturing, although big pieces to work on are uncommon. Turning on a lathe gives good results (www.plantzafrica.com and Coates Palgrave, 2002).
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