Fabaceae - Pea family
SA Tree no 238
The Apple-Leaf (Rain Tree) grows on all soil types, but is tallest and most plentiful on alluvial plains and on the banks of the rivers and streams. It seldom occurs in isolation, with other individuals usually seen in the same vicinity. The bark is creamy-brown, and smooth to cracked and rather flaking; a red sticky sam exudes from the wounds.
The meandering, single, smooth, bare trunk is high-branching and has a whitish-grey colour. The tree has a sparse, irregularly shaped canopy with branches clearly visible between the leaves. The large, pale grey-green, leathery leaves are individually visible even from a distance of 30 meters. Bunches of purple flowers are conspicuous in summer. The tree grows to a height of 5 - 18 m, and it has a sparse density.(up to 10 m????)
Links with animals - The tree may be infected with aphids (froghopper, Ptyelus grossus) which excrete a sweet foam that drips down to form a wet patch on the ground, which is why it is called 'rain tree'. The leaves are not very palatable, but in the absence of other food, young leaves are eaten by giraffe, eland, kudu, elephant, impala and steenbok. Elephants also eat the branches, giving it the name of 'elephant tree' in some areas.(The leaves are heavily browsed on by game and stock, although the roots and bark are said to be poisonous.???)
Human uses - The wood is yellow to brown in colour and fairly hard and heavy. Apart from its use in making dugout canoes, providing poles for building, pestles for pounding grain, pots and axe handles, it has little commercial value.
Gardening - The unusual shape of this tree can make it an interesting addition to the garden. It will grow in most soil types, is fairly drought resistant, but not resistant to frost. It can be grown easily from seed, but is a slow grower.
Leaves - Trifoliate, alternate, with a smooth margin. Terminal leaf is very large. The pale, grey-green leaves are very hairy when young and become leathery with age.
(Leaf: 150 mm; leaflet: 60 x 35 mm) With 1 or 2 pairs of opposite leaflets plus a large terminal leaflet; leaflets oblong to ovate. Apex broadly tapering to round with a fine hair-like tip; base tapering to rounded; margin entire; petiolules and petiole short, thickset and velvety. Stipules are small and falling early.
Flowers - Pea-like, fragrant purple (blue to violet??)flower bunches come out just before, or at the same time, as the new leaves in October and November. The calyx is covered with grey, velvety hairs, and the flowers produce terminal sprays up to 30 cm long, before the leaves. A carpet of dropped flowers are frequently seen under the trees.
Pods - Pale green to light brown, flat-winged, bean-shaped pods are borne in large, conspicuous bunches from January. Pods stay on the tree long after they ripen in late summer. (120 x 2 mm) (a flat, indehiscent pod, 7 to 15 x 2 to 3,5 cm, creamy-grey, with a narrow rim which may be wing-like - January to August.)
This is a protected plant in the Republic of South Africa.
Best places to see the Apple-Leaf in Southern Africa:
The Apple-Leaf (Rain Tree) is found in the Kruger National Park in the Mixed Bushwillow Woodlands, Malelane Mountain Bushveld, Sabie Crocodile Thorn Thickets, Knob Thorn / Marula Savannah, Delagoa Thorn Thickets, Riverine Communities, Olifants Rugged Veld, Mopane Scrubveld, Alluvial Plains & Mopane / Bushwillow Woodlands ecozones.
 Tree species of Southern Africa >> Printable Tree List <<
South African Trees >> Printable Tree List <<
The Plant Kingdom (Plantae)
Wildlife - Fauna & Flora of Southern Africa
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