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Smooth Tinderwood

Volkameria glabra

SA tree no: 667

English: Smooth Tinderwood, Coast Tinsel Bush, Cat's Whiskers, Tinderwood, Verbena Tree, Weeping Tree, White Cat's Whiskers

Afrikaans: Tontelhout, Bitterblaar, Stinkboom, Truitjie-roer-my-nie

Xhosa: Ubulawu, Umboga, Umbololwe, Uluvethe, Umqwaqu, Umqwaqwanam, Uqangazane, Uqangazani

Zulu: Umphatane, Ifamu, Umnukalembiba, Umqaqonga, Umqaqongo, Uphehlecwathi

N. Sotho: Mohlokohloko, Motlhokutlhoku

Swati: Umphehlavatsi, Umphehlacwatsi

Venda: Munukha-tshilongwe

Tsonga: Xinhun'welambeva

Historical scientific names: Amerina tripphylla, Clerodendrum glabrum, Clerodendrum capense, Clerodendrum ovale, Clerodendrum rehmannii, Clerodendrum schlechteri, Ehretia triphylla, Siphonanthus glaber

Volkameria glabra, commonly known as Smooth Tinderwood, is a unique and fast-growing shrub or small tree native to Southern Africa. It can be either deciduous or evergreen and is easily recognised by its glossy green, smooth leaves which can have a distinct pungent smell when crushed. It produces fragrant white flowers and, most notably, distinctive woody, lantern-like fruits that enclose the seeds. Its dry stems are famously used for starting fires, which gives the plant its common name.

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Distinguishing features:

A medium-sized, fast-growing shrub or small tree that can be deciduous or evergreen, often multi-stemmed with brittle twigs.
Has glossy, dark green, simple, hairless leaves that can be thin and soft, often in whorls or opposite, and emit a distinct pungent odour when crushed.
Produces fragrant, white flowers (sometimes with pink/purple tinges) in axillary clusters.
Bears distinctive, globose to ovoid fruits enclosed by an enlarged, papery calyx that forms a 'lantern' or 'bladder'.
Its dry, pithy stems readily catch fire from friction, which is why it's called Tinderwood.

Overall appearance:

Volkameria glabra is typically a medium-sized, fast-growing shrub or small tree, which may be multi-stemmed. It can be either deciduous (losing its leaves in winter) or evergreen, depending on the local environmental conditions. It forms a dense, often short crown and has attractive, glossy green foliage.

Height:

It commonly reaches a height of 2–4 metres, but in lush forest environments, it can occasionally grow taller, up to 10 metres, and sometimes even 12 metres high. The trunk can grow up to 30 cm wide.

Leaves:

The leaves are simple (not divided into leaflets) and are arranged oppositely along the stems, often appearing in whorls of 3 or occasionally 5 around a node.
They are usually thin, soft, and almost hairless (glabra means smooth/hairless).
The leaf shape is variable, ranging from elliptic to elliptic-ovate or lanceolate, and they are typically broadest in the middle.
They measure between 30–120 mm long and 20–60 mm wide, with the apex (tip) tapering to a point.
The margins (edges) of the leaves are entire (smooth) or wavy.
They are dark, glossy green on the upper surface and paler below.
When crushed, the leaves emit a distinct pungent odour.
The petioles (leaf stalks) are 5–30 mm long, and there are no stipules (small leaf-like appendages at the base of the leaf stalk).

Flowers:

The flowers are small, fragrant, and predominantly white, although they can sometimes be tinged with pink or purple.
They are borne in small, axillary cymes (branched clusters from the leaf axils), or in rounded terminal heads also found in leaf axils. When large numbers develop, they can be quite impressive.
Note on sexuality: SANBI indicates that Volkameria glabra flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious). However, some other sources describe the flowers as bisexual.
The calyx (outer part of the flower) is bell-shaped with 5 lobes.
The corolla (petals) forms a slender tube that ends in 5 lobes, with one lower lobe often being larger.
Four long stamens (pollen-producing parts) protrude noticeably from the flower. The ovary is superior.

Flowering season:

The Tinderwood has a remarkably long flowering period, blooming from spring right through to autumn, typically from September to May in Southern Africa. New growth can even produce flowers after just one year.

Fruits:

The fruits are globose (spherical) to ovoid (egg-shaped) drupes, which are fleshy fruits containing a single hard stone (pyrene).
They measure about 8–15 mm in diameter.
Initially green, they ripen to a purplish-black or black colour. (Note: Some other sources describe the mature fruit as cream to yellow in colour; however, the primary SANBI sources specify purplish-black or black).
A unique characteristic is that the fruit is enclosed by the persistent and greatly enlarged, papery calyx, which turns a purplish-brown colour when mature, forming a distinctive 'lantern' or 'bladder' around the fruit. Many drupes develop in closely packed, dense, round heads.

Seeds:

Each hard stone (pyrene) within the fruit typically contains 1–4 small seeds.

Bark:

The bark is generally smooth and light grey. As the tree ages, it can become darker, roughly fissured, or develop flaking patches, sometimes displaying vertical fissures.

Stems:

The twigs of Volkameria glabra are often brittle. The dry, pithy stems and branches are highly combustible and famously used as tinder, readily catching fire from friction, which is the origin of its common name, Tinderwood.

Roots:

The roots are a significant part of the plant for traditional uses. They are traditionally used as a fish poison to stun fish and are also employed in traditional medicine as a purgative and emetic. Additionally, they hold importance in certain ritual practices.

Soil type:

This plant thrives best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.

Aspect:

Volkameria glabra prefers full sun to partial shade. It requires moderate watering, especially during dry periods. While it tolerates light frost, it is sensitive to severe frost and should be protected in very cold areas.

Edibility:

Volkameria glabra is not considered edible for human consumption. Its roots are used as a purgative and emetic in traditional medicine, indicating strong physiological effects.

Toxicity:

The roots of Volkameria glabra are traditionally used as a fish poison, confirming their toxic properties. Furthermore, the roots are purgative and emetic, and they are reported to possess hallucinogenic properties when used for specific ritual purposes. This indicates that the plant contains active compounds that can be harmful if not handled or consumed correctly and with appropriate knowledge.

Uses:

Traditional Medicine and Ritual Use: Various parts of the plant, especially the roots and bark, are used in traditional African medicine to treat conditions such as snakebite, stomach complaints, and colds. The roots are known for their purgative and emetic effects. In certain ritual practices (known as bulawu), the plant is used for its reported hallucinogenic properties.
Traditional Fish Poison: The roots are traditionally employed to stun fish, making them easier to catch.
Tinder and Fire-starting: The dry, pithy stems and branches are highly flammable and can easily ignite through friction. This property makes them valuable for fire-starting, hence the common name Tinderwood.
Ornamental Plant: With its attractive glossy foliage, fragrant white flowers, and unique lantern-like fruits, Volkameria glabra is a popular and appealing plant for gardens, suitable for hedges or as a standalone specimen. New growth can flower after just one year, adding to its ornamental appeal.
Hedges: Its dense growth habit makes it well-suited for being pruned and shaped into an effective hedge.
Other uses: Leaves are traditionally used as insect repellents and as a disinfectant. The fruit can be used to produce a blue-grey dye. Research has shown that hexane extracted from the plant has good antifungal activity against Candida albicans.
Wood: The hard wood is used for carving, hut and fish trap construction, and for small pieces of furniture.

Ecology:

Pollination: The fragrant flowers are a magnet for various insects, particularly moths and butterflies, which are crucial for pollination.
Seed Dispersal: The fruits provide a food source for numerous fruit-eating birds (such as bulbuls, starlings, and barbets) and monkeys, which consume the fruits and aid in dispersing the seeds to new areas.
Shelter: The plant's structure and dense foliage offer valuable shelter and habitat for various small animals and insects.
Larval Host Plant: Volkameria glabra is an important larval host plant for the Citrus Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio demodocus), meaning its caterpillars feed on its leaves.
Ecological Interaction/Human Use: The traditional use of the roots as a fish poison highlights a direct human-plant interaction that influences local aquatic ecosystems.

Distribution and habitat:

Volkameria glabra has a broad natural distribution across Southern and East Africa.

South African Provinces: It is indigenous to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Western Cape provinces of South Africa.
Beyond SA: Its natural range extends into Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Habitat: It thrives in diverse environments, including deciduous woodlands, rocky hillsides, termite mounds, coastal bush, coastal dunes, coastal dune forests, riverine forests, moist evergreen forests, and rocky outcrops. It is frequently found along forest fringes and grows well in bushveld areas.

Derivation of name:

The genus name, Volkameria, was given in honour of Johann Georg Volkamer (1662–1744), a notable German botanist and pharmacist.
The specific epithet, glabra, is a Latin word meaning 'smooth' or 'hairless', referring to the characteristic lack of hairs on its leaves and stems.

Historical aspects:

Volkameria glabra holds a deep historical and cultural significance in Southern African societies. It has been used for generations in traditional medicine and spiritual rituals, valued for its potent medicinal properties, including its reported hallucinogenic effects in specific ceremonial contexts. The common name, Tinderwood, directly reflects its historical importance as a readily available and effective natural material for starting fires, a crucial survival skill throughout history.

Interesting facts:

The name Tinderwood isn't just a fun nickname – its dry stems can actually be used to start a fire by friction, making it a natural fire-starter!
Its fruits are quite unique! They're small berries that ripen to a dark colour but are enclosed in a papery, lantern-like casing that makes them look very distinctive on the tree.
This plant is a favourite food source for the caterpillars of the iconic Citrus Swallowtail butterfly, helping these beautiful insects grow.
In some traditional practices, the roots of Tinderwood have been used to stun fish in rivers, showing a fascinating historical interaction between people and this plant.

Growing tips:

Propagation: You can easily grow new Tinderwood plants from either fresh seeds or cuttings.
Seeds: Clean the seeds thoroughly and sow them in a well-drained growing medium.
Germination: Seeds typically germinate within 3 to 6 weeks.
Cuttings: Both hardwood and semi-hardwood cuttings root readily, especially if treated with a rooting hormone, making propagation quite straightforward.
Growth Rate: This is a fast-growing plant, which means it will establish itself relatively quickly in your garden. New growth can even produce flowers after just one year!
Soil: It thrives in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter.
Aspect: Plant it in a location that receives full sun to partial shade.
Watering: It requires moderate watering, particularly during dry periods, to ensure healthy growth.
Frost Tolerance: While it tolerates light frost, it is sensitive to severe frost. In areas with harsh winters, it's best to offer some protection.
Pruning: Volkameria glabra responds very well to pruning, allowing you to shape it as a specimen plant or maintain it as a dense hedge.

This plant is a fantastic alternative for:

Common name

Scientific Name

Plant type:

Semi-deciduous, deciduous, evergreen, tree or shrub

Plant family:

Lamiaceae (Latin name: open mouth (the flowers)) - Order: Lamiales