About Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk.
Ptaeroxylon obliquum, commonly known as sneezewood, grows as a shrub or medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching a maximum height of 15 metres (49 feet). Its bark is whitish-grey and smooth when the tree is young, and becomes fissured as it ages. Its leaflets measure 2.5 cm by 1.3 cm and grow with an asymmetric shape. Leaflets range in color from blue-green to dark green, and three to seven pairs of leaflets crowd near the end of the leaf rachis. The tree produces white to creamy yellow, fragrant flowers. Sneezewood wood is very dense, with a specific gravity of 1040 kg/m3. Sneezewood has documented medicinal and ritual uses. Its bark can be used to repel moths, or processed to make snuff. The tree's resin has been used to remove warts and cattle ticks. The Xhosa people have a traditional practice of making snuff from sneezewood to relieve headaches.
