Lavender Tree - Heteropyxis natalensis Seeds - South African Indigenous Tree - Global Shipping

Heteropyxis natalensis Seeds

 Lavender Tree

This is a medium to large deciduous tree that grows to about 10 metres high. It occurs naturally on the coastal and inland regions of the KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is also found growing in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The lavender tree has drooping foliage. The leaves are narrowly elliptic and are arranged spirally. They are shiny dark green above and paler green below, slightly hairy to hairless when mature. When crushed they produce a strong lavender scent. The leaf petiole is slender and pink over the lower half. The main stem is crooked and sometimes fluted. The bark is distinctively pale grey, often almost white and is flaking on the old stem. The flowers, which are yellowish green, appear in summer (December - March). They are very small, about 3 mm in diameter, and are borne in branched terminal clusters. They are sweetly scented. The fruit is a small oval capsule that is up to 4 x 2.5 mm. It appears between March and May. Its colour is shiny brown and it bears numerous seeds. When ready, it splits into 2 to 3 valves releasing the seeds, after which the old capsules may remain on the tree for months. This tree has several economic uses. Bark and leaves are browsed by black rhino. Leaves are also used in herbal tea and potpourri. The wood is hard, very fine grained and is pale pinkish brown in colour. It is suitable for use as fencing posts and charcoal. The leaves and roots of this plant are used medicinally and to treat worms in stock. African healers prescribe inhaling the steam from a decoction of the roots to heal a bleeding nose. The roots are also used in the treatment of mental disorders and fresh leaves are used during weaning. The leaves are also used to scent tobacco.