Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
narrow leaf karoo boer-bean
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Schotia afra
Sub Species:
Variety:
angustifolia
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Schotia afra angustifolia is a small, multibranched tree with a gnarled trunk spreading wider than tall; it is a slightly smaller variety of the straight species Schotia afra (1,2,4,6). It grows to be a maximum of 5 m (16 ft) tall with rigid branches tending to curve (1,2,6). The bark on the youngest stems is light gray and smooth, becoming darker brown and fissured as it matures (1,3,6). The leaves are dark green, alternately arranged, and paripinnate with up to eighteen pairs of leaflets (1,2,4,6). These leaflets have sparse, downy hairs along the margin and are notably narrower than the straight species, as thin as 4 mm (5/32 in) (4,6). Schotia afra angustifolia has beautiful clusters of bright red or pink flowers that are distributed throughout the tree; these flowers have the same structure and shape as the straight species, they are pear shaped with several stamens poking out the tip with multiple uneven ovaries (1,2,4,6). These flowers produce lime green seed pods that age to a dark and woody and that explode open after ripening (2,4,6). The seeds are reddish-brown, somewhat disc-shaped shaped, with a yellow aril attached (2,6).
Compound:
Geographic Origin:
Africa
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The angustifolia variety is native to the Northern Cape of South Africa, Namaqualand, and along the southern Namibian border near the Gariep River (4,6). This plant grows along seasonally dry riverbeds in arid regions (2,4,5,6). The subspecific epithet ‘angustifolia’ refers to the narrower leaflets compared to those of the straight species (4). This variety is classified as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (3,6).
Cultivation Notes:
The narrow leaf karoo boerbean grows best in full sun and a well-drained soil but is very resilient in many soil types; similar care requirements as the straight species (2,4). This small tree has a non-invasive, non-destructive root system making it a good option for a smaller garden or a container plant (2,4)
Ethnobotany:
The bright flowers produce copious amounts of nectar which makes S. afra angustifolia an attractive tree to pollinators including butterflies, bees, and birds, as well as a beautiful accent tree for any garden (1,2,4,6). The seeds are edible, both green and mature, that can be roasted by fire or ground up for a meal (1,2,5). The hard wood was used for yokes when animal-drawn wagons were common, currently is used mostly for fire fuel (6).
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
ForeSummer
Color:
Red
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
