Forest Elder

SA: 634; Z: 896 Autumn-Winter
Small to medium-sized evergreen tree with a densely leafy, somewhat rounded crown; occurring in and around forest. Twigs angled with swollen nodes. Leaves 3-whorled or opposite, somewhat drooping, more than 3 times as long as broad, hairless; margin entire or obscurely toothed, particularly in coppice shoots, often wavy; midrib often purplish in young leaves; petiole slender, 15-45 mm long. Flowers in large, much-branched terminal sprays, small, white, fragrant. Fruit a capsule, about 4 mm long, brownish when mature; seeds fine, inconspicuous. The wood is pale yellowish, hard and heavy, used for fencing and in general carpentry. Leaves browsed by game. Bark used medicinally. A decorative garden plant. (Piet van Wyk & Braam van Wyk, Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa, 2011)