View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

3.2.17 Scientific name : Warburgia salutaris (Bertol. f.) Chiov.
Zulu name : Isibhaha
Common name : Pepper-bark tree
Figure 3.23 The leaves of Warbugia salutaris.
(www.plantzafrica.com/plantwxyz/warbug.htm).
Botanical description
Warbugia salutaris is an evergreen, slender tree that grows from 5 to 10 m tall. Its
dark-green, glossy leaves, with entire margins, are a paler green on the
undersurface. They are simple, alternately arranged, and elliptic to lanceolate. The
midrib is slightly off-centre with a tapering apex and base. The leaves have a bitter,
burning, aromatic taste. This plant has white to greenish flowers of up to 7 mm in
diameter. The flowers are solitary, axillary, or in tight, few-flowered heads, borne on
short, robust stalks in the axils of the leaves. These flowers develop into round, oval
berries which are, narrowed towards the base; they are dark green but turn purple
when ripe; and they are covered with glands and are leathery in texture. The stem is
covered by a rich brown bark that is also bitter and peppery (Van Wyk et al., 1997).
Distribution
Warbugia salutaris is a tropical forest tree which extends southwards as far as
KwaZulu-Natal, eastern and northern Gauteng and across Swaziland. It also occurs
in Malawi. Its growth habitat is forests and valleys (Mbambezeli, 2004).
51