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Assegai Tree
Curtisia dentata
SA tree no: 570
English: Assegai Tree, Assegaaiwood, Assegai, Cape Lancewood
Afrikaans: Asgaaiboom, Assegaai, Assegaaiboom, Assegaaihout, Saffraanhout, Kaapse Essehout
Xhosa: umGxina, uNhlebe, umLahleni, uSirayi, umTuna
Zulu: Injundumlahleni, uMaginda, uMagunda, umBomvane, umGuna, umLahleni, umLahlenisefile, umPhephelelangeni, uPhephelelangeni, umBese, umZino
N. Sotho: Modula-tshwene
Siswati: iliNcayi, isiNwati
S. Sotho: Lekgase
Venda: Mufhefhera, Musangwe
Historical scientific names: Curtisia faginea
Curtisia dentata, commonly known as Assegai Tree or Umgxina, is a magnificent indigenous evergreen tree. It is highly prized for its beautiful dark green, glossy leaves with distinctive toothed margins, its small, creamy-white flowers, and its characteristic four-lobed, reddish-purple berries. This elegant tree is a popular choice for gardens and parks, particularly for its attractive foliage and neat, compact growth habit.
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Distinguishing features:
Leaves are dark green, glossy, with strongly toothed (dentate) or spiny margins, especially on younger growth.
Leaves are opposite and have distinctive venation, with veins often sunken on the upper surface and raised beneath.
Bark is smooth and greyish-brown on young stems, becoming rougher and reddish-brown with age.
Small, creamy-white, star-shaped flowers in terminal clusters.
Four-lobed, fleshy berries that ripen from green to bright reddish-purple.
Overall appearance:
The Assegai Tree (Curtisia dentata) is a truly handsome evergreen tree, standing out with its dense crown of glossy, dark green leaves. What makes its foliage especially striking are the sharply toothed edges of the leaves, which can sometimes look almost spiny. It produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers that are followed by distinctive four-lobed berries, starting green and ripening to a vibrant reddish-purple, adding year-round interest.
Height:
Typically grows 4 to 12 metres tall, but can reach up to 15-20 metres in sheltered, moist forest conditions.
Width:
Forms a dense, rounded crown, typically 2 to 6 metres wide.
Leaves:
The leaves are opposite, simple, and stiffly leathery. They are oval to elliptic, typically 3-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. The upper surface is glossy dark green, while the underside is paler and hairy, especially on the veins. A key identifying feature is the strongly toothed (dentate) or spiny-toothed margins, which are particularly pronounced on younger growth. The venation is also distinct, often sunken on the upper surface and clearly raised beneath. The petiole (leaf stalk) is short.
Flowers:
The flowers are small, numerous, and creamy-white to yellowish-white. They are star-shaped, with four petals, and are borne in dense, branched clusters (terminal corymbs) at the ends of branches. Curtisia dentata flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive parts.
Flowering season:
Flowers mainly in summer (around December to March).
Fruits:
The fruit is a distinctive, fleshy, drupe (a stone fruit) that is typically four-lobed and somewhat flattened, measuring 6-10 mm in diameter. It ripens from green to bright reddish-purple or crimson, often with a slightly velvety texture. The fruits are persistent and remain on the tree for a long time, providing a colourful display.
Seeds:
Each four-lobed fruit contains four small, hard seeds (stones) within its fleshy pulp.
Bark/Stems:
The bark on young stems is smooth and greyish-brown, becoming rougher, fissured, and often reddish-brown or dark grey with age. It can be somewhat flaky. The tree often has a single, straight trunk but can be multi-stemmed.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood is hard, heavy, and very strong, with a pale reddish or yellowish colour and a fine grain. It is highly valued for its durability and was traditionally used for assegai shafts (spears) by indigenous people, giving the tree its common name. It is also used for furniture, wagons, and handles.
Roots:
It has a relatively deep and spreading root system that helps anchor it in its preferred forest and woodland habitats.
Soil type:
Prefers well-drained, fertile, loamy soils rich in organic matter. It tolerates a range of soil types from sandy to clay but benefits from consistent moisture. It can grow in both acidic and slightly alkaline conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is moderately frost-tolerant; mature trees can withstand light to moderate frosts (down to -5°C to -8°C), but young trees should be protected. It prefers good rainfall and is somewhat drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular watering during dry periods. It is also tolerant of coastal conditions, including salt spray.
Ediblity:
Not typically considered edible for humans. While the berries are technically drupes, they are not commonly consumed and their edibility for humans is not well-documented.
Toxicity:
There is no widespread information indicating that Curtisia dentata is significantly toxic to humans or animals. However, it is generally not consumed.
Uses:
Highly prized as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks, and on farms for its attractive foliage, flowers, and colourful berries.
Excellent as a shade tree, specimen tree, or for screening/hedging when pruned.
Its hard and durable wood was historically used by indigenous people for making assegai (spear) shafts, as well as for furniture, wagon parts, and other implements.
Useful for attracting birds, particularly frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds.
Ecology:
The small, creamy-white flowers are pollinated by various insects, including bees. The fleshy, reddish-purple fruits are highly attractive to a wide variety of frugivorous birds, which play a crucial role in dispersing the seeds. This makes the Assegai Tree an important food source for wildlife in its natural habitat. It often forms a component of coastal and Afromontane forest ecosystems.
Distribution and habitat:
Curtisia dentata is indigenous to South Africa and is widely distributed along the coast and inland escarpment. It is found in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. It typically grows in evergreen forests, forest margins, bushveld, and along river banks, preferring moist, well-drained conditions. It can also be found in coastal dune forests.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Curtisia honours William Curtis (1746-1799), a celebrated English botanist and founder of the Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
The species epithet dentata is Latin for 'toothed', referring to the distinctive serrated or toothed margins of its leaves.
The common name "Assegai Tree" directly refers to the traditional use of its exceptionally hard and straight wood for making assegai (spear) shafts by indigenous people in South Africa.
Historical aspects:
The Assegai Tree has a rich cultural and historical significance in South Africa, particularly due to the traditional use of its wood for weapons and tools by various indigenous groups. Its timber has also been valued by early European settlers for furniture and wagon building. Botanically, it has been admired for its beauty and distinct features for centuries, making it a classic indigenous tree in South African gardens. Its widespread distribution and prominent features have made it a well-known species throughout the country's history.
Interesting facts:
This tree's name, "Assegai Tree," comes from the fact that its super strong wood was traditionally used to make the shafts of spears (assegais)!
Look closely at its glossy green leaves – they have really cool toothed edges, almost like tiny saw blades, especially on younger branches.
Even when it's not flowering, the tree is pretty, but when its small, creamy-white flowers turn into bright reddish-purple, four-lobed berries, it's a real showstopper, especially for birds!
It's one of those tough trees that can grow in lots of different places, from coastal forests to high up on the mountains.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Best propagated from fresh seeds, which can be slow to germinate and benefit from treatment to soften the seed coat (e.g., soaking). Can also be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings, but this can be challenging.
Light: Adapts well to full sun or partial shade.
Watering: Requires moderate to good rainfall and benefits from regular watering, especially during dry periods. It is somewhat drought-tolerant once established.
Soil: Plant in well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost.
Container: Can be grown in large containers when young, but its size will eventually require planting in the ground.
Maintenance: Generally low maintenance. Young trees may need protection from severe frost.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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