Tamboti Tree

Afrikaans name: Tambotie

Tamboti

Photo © Steven Herbert

Spirostachys africana

The Tamboti is a well known tree. It grows to a height of around 10 metres.

The wood of the Tamboti is used to make fine furniture and is much sought after.

Care must be taken not to burn the wood of a Tamboti tree in a braai or camp fire. The fumes given off by the burning wood are poisonous.

Have you ever seen a jumping bean? The jumping bean found in South Africa comes from the fruit of the Tamboti into which a moth has laid an egg. The resulting larvae spring around inside the fruit segments, that have fallen to the ground, causing them to jump.

Leaves of the Tamboti

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Whats that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 94

Wild Issue 32 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 82

Trees of Kruger - Author: Braam and Piet van Wyk - Published: 2023 - Page: 131

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 519

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 50

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 230

The Natal Bushveld - Volume 1 - Author: Natal Parks Board - Published: 1981 - Page: 73

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 50

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 98

Struik Pocket Guides for Southern Africa - Poisonous Plants - Author: Eugene and Glen Moll - Published: 1989 - Page: 24

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 112

Sappi Tree Spotting: Lowveld - Author: Jacana - Published: 1997 - Page: 208

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 244

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 176

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 290

Piet van Wyks Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 132

go! - Kruger - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 66

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 61

Kruger - Portrait of a National Park - Author: David Paynter with Wilf Nussey - Published: 1986 - Page: 30

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 304

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 132

A site-by-site guide to trees in the Kruger National Park - Author: Marissa Greeff - Published: 2017 - Page: 2

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 191

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 174

For more info: SANBI

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