This medium to large tree with its dark green glossy leaves produces dense clusters of whitish flowers from July to September.

Description
Brachylaena transvaalensis is an evergreen tree, although it can be deciduous at times depending on its location. It can grow to a height of between 10 and 25 metres. This tree produces a single straight trunk which at times is slightly fluted. Although the grey to pale brown bark is smooth initially, it becomes vertically striated and stringy with age. The grey twigs are ribbed and hairless.

Brachylaena transvaalensis flowers	Brachylaena transvaalensis fruit

The narrowly elliptic leaves are dark green and glossy above and white-felted below. They are alternate with a raised midrib underneath. The leaf margins are either entire or can be shallowly toothed towards the tip of the leavesand are often wavy.

The whitish flowers appear between July and September in dense clusters towards the tips of the branches. The flower stalks are either short or absent.

The fruit appear between September and November; the flower clusters produce clusters of small dry nutlets crowned with tufts of cream bristles.

Conservation status
None.

Distribution and habitat
Forest silver-oaks are found in different forest types ranging from evergreen and semideciduous to riverine. They also occur in wooded grassland along the escarpment. They are distributed throughout KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo provinces within South Africa and are also found in Swaziland.

Derivation of name and historical aspects
Greek brachy : short and chlaina : a cloak, referring to the short floral bracts; transvaalensis : from the Transvaal, former province of South Africa.

Ecology
The nectar-rich flowers attract bees and other insects. Young leaves are browsed by bushbuck.

Uses and cultural aspects
The strong, hard, fine-grained wood is used for numerous purposes including hut and boat building, fence posts and spear shafts, as well as hoe and axe handles.

Growing Brachylaena transvaalensis

Propagation takes place either by seed or cuttings.

It grows fast, with a non-invasive root system. It is frost hardy and requires a moderate amount of water as well as full sun.

References and further reading

• Joffe, P. 2001. Creative gardening with indigenous plants. A South African guide. Briza Publications. Pretoria.
• Pooley, E. 1993. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban.
• Schmidt, E., Lötter, M., McCleland, W. 2002. Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. Jacana. Johannesburg.