This cache is the 11th of 17 in the “Search for the Big 5” series of caches.
Do not attempt this cache if you do not have a high raised vehicle or a rental. You may just get stuck along the road.
When on a visit to Phalaborwa recently I discovered Geocaching and on a return visit I saw that the local cachers are keeping the caches coming and decided to reward them with some caches of my own on a route I often followed in search of the Big 5 when I was still a youngster living in Phalaborwa.
The cache is a camouflaged pill holder at an Apple Leave Tree.
Philenoptera violacea is a medium- to large-sized, deciduous to semi-deciduous tree up to 15 m tall with a wide-spreading, dense and rounded crown. The main stem is tall, straight and bare, occasionally bent and twisted. The bark is grey and flaking on older branches and stem, but smooth, light grey and covered with dense hairs on younger branches, exuding a sticky red sap when cut.
Leaves are large (70-200 mm long), unevenly compound with 1-3 pairs of opposite leaflets and one terminal leaflet, hard and rough in texture, shiny or glossy above and grey-green beneath, with prominent midribs. The terminal leaflets are always much bigger than the lower leaflets (about 180 mm long and 90 mm broad). Flowers are scattered, usually borne in dense terminal sprays 120-300 mm long at the tips of the branches, varying in color from white and pink to bluish-pink, mauve or deep violet, and are sweet-scented. They appear from September to December, before or together with the new leaves. Fruit is a flat pod, non-splitting, relatively large (about 120 x 25 mm), hairless, tapering at both ends, persisting on the tree during winter, usually 2- or 3-seeded.
Philenoptera violacea is a protected tree in South Africa
Philenoptera violacea has economic value as the wood is used to make good, attractive household articles such as grinding blocks and tool handles. Generally, the wood is commercialised in making carvings, grain mortars, building poles and mealie stampers. In African tradition, it is also used to make dug-out canoes. The leaves of the apple-leaf tree provide forage for giraffes, and the pods serve as a source of nourishment to these animals.
In southern Africa, P. violacea is used in traditional remedies. Most parts of the plant are used to treat diarrhea. The roots are used for gastro-intestinal problems; powdered root-bark is used to treat colds and snakebite. Root infusions are commonly used as part of a hookworm remedy.
Please replace as found
Beware of muggles