About Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.fil.) Radlk.
Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.fil.) Radlk. is a small semi-deciduous tree that grows on forest margins, along stream banks, and in scrub forest. It frequently grows into a tall, slender sapling, which makes it highly valued as wattle material for hut-building. Its leaves measure 75 to 150 mm (3.0 to 5.9 in) in length, and are paripinnate with around 5 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are extremely variable in shape, wedge-shaped at the base, and can be entire, dentate or deeply lobed; they are sessile, and the leaf rachis has wing-like structures between leaflets. Its flower panicles can reach up to 75 mm (3.0 in) in length and bear many flowers. The fruits are roughly 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter, black, pulpy, and unpalatable. All parts of this tree release an unpleasant odor when bruised. Fourcade described the wood as "very heavy and hard, very strong, moderately elastic, close-grained ... heartwood brown, sapwood white, tinged with brown", and notes it is used for wagon-work and other purposes. The wood and leaves contain a strongly scented resinous and oily substance that makes them easily inflammable. This tree occurs along the east coast from the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu Natal and Eswatini, and extends inland through the Transvaal as far as the Soutpansberg.
