Vepris lanceolata - White Ironwood Bonsai Seeds

Family : Rutaceae (buchu family)
Common names : white ironwood (Eng.); witysterhout (Afr.)

It can be pruned in different shapes and makes a good container or bonsai plant.

What a lovely, underrated shrub or tree-a plant that South Africans can definitely try in their gardens in the future!

Description
The white ironwood is mostly an evergreen shrub or small tree of up to 5 m in height, but can reach a height of 20 m in dry forest areas. The bark is smooth and grey to dark grey in colour.

The leaves are trifoliolate, leathery, alternately arranged on the stem, and hairless. The leaflets are narrowly elliptic in shape, with the margins entire and markedly wavy; the apex tapers to a more or less rounded point. As the plant belongs to the Rutaceae family, the leaves are densely covered with gland-dots and have a lemony scent when crushed.

The wood is hard, heavy, strong, elastic and even-grained with a whitish to pale yellow colour.

Uses and cultural aspects
Traditionally the powdered roots are used for influenza and colic and the leaves are burnt to dispel evil spirits.