Zeekoevlei #4: Cool Tree
The cache, a camo-taped bison tube is hidden in this fine shady tree just north of the main central grassy part of the extensive recreation area which runs for almost 2km along the eastern side of the vlei.
Although I didn’t make detailed observations at the time of hiding the cache, from the photos I took and the general appearance of the tree, its leaves and bark, I am prepared to identify it as probably a Wild Olive. If you identify it as something else, let me know in your log and I will correct the cache description accordingly.
Even if it isn’t, there are highly likely to be such trees in the area as they are commonly found near water.
The wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. Africana or cuspidata), called olienhout in Afrikaans is frost-, drought- and wind-resistant, has beautiful wood for furniture, and is regarded as a small-fruited subspecies of the commercial olive.
It is a slow-growing, neatly shaped evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown (9 x 12 m) of glossy grey-green to dark-green foliage. Leaves are grey-green to dark-green above and greyish below. The rough, grey bark sometimes peels off in strips.
Sprays of tiny, lightly scented white to greenish flowers (October-February) are followed (March-July) by
small, spherical, thinly fleshy fruits (either sweet or sour) which ripen purple-black.
It is found in a variety of habitats, often near water, eg. on rocky hillsides, stream banks and in woodland (where it can reach 12m). It is widespread in Africa, Mascarene Islands (belonging to Mauritius and Reunion), Arabia, India to China. In areas where it is not native, such as Australia, it is classified as an environmental weed. spread mainly by birds eating the fruit and depositing the seeds.
Its fruits are popular with people, monkeys, baboons, mongooses, bushpigs, warthogs and birds (eg. red-winged and pied starlings, Rameron pigeons, African green pigeons, Cape parrots and louries). Leaves are browsed by game and stock. This tree is an asset on farms and game farms, especially in very dry areas because it is extremely hardy and an excellent fodder tree.
Uses: The hard, heavy, fine-grained and beautiful golden-brown wood is much-prized, durable, and resistant to termites and wood borers. The sap wood is pale brown, while the heartwood is dark yellow to reddish brown. It has a strong smell similar to bay rum. It is used for furniture (including as inlays), turnery, ornaments, knife handles, spoons and durable fence posts. It produces a particularly smooth finish.
See here for photos of some wonderful pieces made by a South African artist with turned wild olive wood.
An ink can be made from the juice of the fruit.
Traditional remedies prepared from this plant are used as eye lotions and tonics, to lower blood pressure, improve kidney function and sooth sore throats. The early Cape settlers used the fruits to treat diarrhoea. A tea can be made from the leaves.
It is cultivated as an ornamental tree for parks, gardens and bonsai. It is also used for the production of table olives and oil.