Shepherd's Tree

Afrikaans name: Witgat

Shepherd's Tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Boscia albitrunca

The Shepherd's Tree is often called the "tree of life" as it provides food to many animals and has many uses for humans as well, including the roots being used to make porridge, making beer and various medicinal treatments.

It normally only grows to a height of 7 metres. It has a tall light-greyish trunk and bushy crown. The leaves are greyish-green.

From late winter to spring the clumps of yellowish-green flowers appear. The fruit is smooth and about 1 cm in size.

References and further reading

Wild Issue 31 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 76

Wild Flowers of Namaqualand - Author: Annelise Le Roux - Published: 2015 - Page: 232

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 224

What s that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 104

Trees of Kruger - Author: Braam and Piet van Wyk - Published: 2023 - Page: 43

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 8

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 26

Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 161

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 18

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 102

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 36

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 146

Sappi Tree Spotting: Lowveld - Author: Jacana - Published: 1997 - Page: 152

Pocket Guide - Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2013 - Page: 25

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 230

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 85

Namaqualand in Flower - Author: Sima Eliovson - Published: 1972 - Page: 81

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 66

Piet van Wyk s Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st editi - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 46

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 17

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 264

Everyone s Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 28

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 46

A site-by-site guide to trees in the Kruger National Park - Author: Marissa Greeff - Published: 2017 - Page: 62

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 109

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 84

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 59

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 120

For more info: SANBI

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