Buffalo Thorn: You will certainly feel this

From the archive. This page keeps material from the hiking club website that once used this domain. JHB Hiking is an independent magazine; routes, access and fees may have changed, so check with the landowner or reserve before you go.

This group consists of those trees and plants indigenous to the area and those selected are randomly picked from a vast list.

Listen to the bees as they buzz around the flowers or to the calls of the various birds who eat the fruits. Taste the edible fruit which is rather dry and mealy. You will certainly feel the prick of the thorns if you get too close.

Latin name	Zizyphus mucronata ?– related to the lotus it derives its name from the Arabic for lotus ?‘zizuof?’. Mucronata is Latin for sharp points.
Common name	Catch and stab or wait a bit (Afrikaans ?– haak-en-steek or wag ?‘n bietjie)
Location	Throughout Southern Africa except the Western Cape. In bush or grassland rather than true woodland.
Description	Large impressive tree. Leaves are distinctly three veined from the base, glossy dark green, toothed and alternate single. The spines are a notable feature. May be absent but when present grow in pairs at the junction of each leave stem. One spine is curved (haak) and other straight (steek). Flowers from November to February are inconspicuous. The fruit, when ripe, March to August, is russet-red or orange berries of 1-1.5cm.
Edible	The berries are edible but rather dry and mealy. They were roasted and used as coffee during the Anglo-Boer War. They are much sort after by birds and browsers.
Medicinal	Various parts of the tree will cure anything from dysentery, boils, swollen glands, lumbago, measles, toothache and all pain.
Interesting	The Zulus use a branch of the tree to transport ancestral spirits from an old dwelling to a new one. The branch may even buy a seat in a taxi if need be.
Garden uses	Hardy and attractive tree, thorn-less varieties are available. Attracts birds.