Meet the Trees … Silver cluster-leaf ((Terminalia sericea) Fam. Combretaceae)

• LUISE HOFFMANN DURING spring and summer the silver cluster-leaf stands out against the other vegetation due to its beautiful silvery green foliage. It is often the dominant species on sandy soils. From March onwards the dark pink, two-winged fruits become very visible. They remain on the tree for a long time, making it easy to identify.

Names: G. Gelbholzbaum ; A. Vaalboom, Geelhout; H. Omuseasetu; Nd. Omugolo Ky. Omwoolo N/D. /gab. Botanical: Terminalia: because the leaves are clustered at the end or “terminus” of the branches; sericea = like silk, referring to the fine silky hairs covering the leaves.

This tree or shrub is always found on deep sandy soil where it may be very abundant. A few beautiful specimens occur along the B1 between Sukses and Otjiwarongo. It is very common in the Omaheke region, on the Waterberg Plateau, in the northern and northeastern regions of Namibia and the Caprivi.

Usually 4 – 6 m high, the silver cluster-leaf may reach 12 m. It is a beautifully structured tree with a straight trunk and a characteristically layered crown. In the Omaheke region it often forms extensive stands of shrubby growth only 1 – 2 m high.

The trunk is covered with dark grey or brown bark, deeply fissured lengthways and rough; the bark on young twigs is red-brown to purplish, peeling to reveal the light brown underbark.

Simple and entire, the green to blue green leaves are covered in silky silvery hairs, which give a silvery appearance to the entire tree, hence the common name ‘silver leaf terminalia’. In wet years the leaves tend to be larger and less hairy than in dry years.

Inconspicuous creamy to yellowish flowers in slender drooping spikes appear from October – November. They have a somewhat unpleasant smell and develop into numerous, two-winged fruit of a beautiful soft pink colour, hanging below the branches, while the leaves tend to grow quite erect on top of the branches. When in fruit, this tree with its dark trunk and branches, its graceful shape and silver-green canopy flecked with dark pink fruits is a lovely sight. With age the fruits turn a brownish colour.

Uses: The yellow, fine grained wood is strong and elastic. It is also insect resistant and is thus often used for fence posts, tool handles and for the construction of traditional housing. Lovely rustic armchairs and settees can also be fashioned from terminalia wood. It also provides good firewood. In the northern regions the inner bark is used to tie together the frames of houses and also in the making of grain-storage baskets. People along the Kavango River pound the root bark into a sticky mixture to seal wato’s (dugouts). The leaves are said to be not very nutritious but are browsed by cattle, elephant, giraffe and antelope, while elephants and giraffe also eat the branches. The nutritional value for livestock can be greatly improved by adding certain chemicals to their mineral lick, which neutralise the tannin content and so improve the digestibility of proteins. As a result the animals can ingest more leaves and extract more nutrients from them. The bark also contains tannic acid and is used for tanning. It imparts a yellowish colour to the leather.