Estate Living Magazine #liveyourbestlife - Issue 46 December 2019 | Page 7

P R O P E R T Y
&
I N V E S T M E N T
TREES
A quick look at the apex trees of the 17.5-hectare
swamp forest:
Natal mahogany or umathunzini (Trichilia emetica) is a
large, spreading, handsome evergreen that bears sweetly
scented flowers that attract birds and insects. In traditional
medicine, the powdered bark is used as a remedy for stom-
ach problems; the oil can be extracted and used as a skin
moisturiser; and, soaked in water, the seeds make a milky
soup that’s eaten with spinach. The timber, which ranges
from pink to light brown, is used for carving sculptures. (pza.
sanbi.org/trichilia-emetica)
Swamp fig or umvubu (Ficus trichopoda) is unusual in be-
ing the only indigenous fig with aerial roots that develop into
new stems as they touch the ground and begin to mature.
The sap is used in traditional practice to make birdlime (a
sticky gloop used for trapping birds for the pot), while the
bark is useful for making twine. (pza.sanbi.org/ficus-trichop-
oda)
Raffia palm or umVuma (Raphia australis), which is also
known as the Kosi palm, is one of the signature species at
the estate. Its fruits, which are borne on spectacular spikes,
and may remain on the tree for up to two years at a time, are
dispersed mainly by the rare palm-nut vultures that are in-
digenous to the area. Raffia palms live to more than 40 years,
and flower only once in their lifetimes, but no one yet knows
what triggers flowering. Kosi palms are rarely seen in cultiva-
tion, which makes the forward-thinking use of the species at
Elaleni (on traffic islands, for example) all the more unusual.
(pza.sanbi.org/raphia-australis)
F
Elaleni Coastal Forest Estate is situated on 46 hectares near
KwaZulu-Natal’s Sheffield Beach, seven kilometres from Ballito Main
Beach, and 26 kilometres from King Shaka International Airport. It’s
the site of an old crocodile farm, which is fortunate because most
of northern KwaZulu-Natal’s coastal forest was flattened ages ago to
make way for sugar cane. But, because of the crocodile farm, the
17.5 hectares of indigenous swamp forest that’s now become the
central, iconic inspiration of the estate’s ethos survived – a lonely
but lovely remnant.
INSPIRATION
Natal strangler fig or umthombe (Ficus craterostoma) can
mature into a massive giant, with sturdy buttress roots and
strong strangler roots that can easily split rocks. The figs are
edible but not very tasty. In traditional medicine, the bark is
used as an ingredient in preparations taken to ease child-
birth, while the leaves are crushed as compresses for treat-
ing scratches and warts. (pza.sanbi.org/ficus-craterostoma)