Agroforestree Database

Local names:
 Afrikaans (wildekastaiing,kastaiinghout), English (wild chestnut,Cape chestnut), Trade name (Cape chestnut), Xhosa (umBaba), Zulu (umBhaba,umBaba)

In the forest, Calodendrum capense is tall, up to 20 m or more in height, but in open country and on the forest margin it is shorter and more spreading. Trunk is grey and smooth even in old trees and often buttressed and lichen covered in the forest. Branches are opposite, the young ones hairy and flexible, soon becoming smooth and more rigid.

Leaves simple, without stipules, opposite, untoothed, borne on short stalks, 5-13 (max. 22) x 3.5-7.5 cm; dark green, oval or oblong, aromatic, tips bluntly pointed or round, base tapering to slightly lobed, margin entire and rather wavy, midrib conspicuous on the undersurface. Parallel veins conspicuous, branching out almost at right angles from the midrib to the edge of the leaves; blades studded with oil glands appearing as tiny spots when the leaf is held to the light.

Flowers borne in rather open terminal sprays or panicles, bisexual; petals 5, long, narrow, hairy, 4 x 0.5 cm, curling downwards, with a faint sweet scent; alternating with 5 petallike stamens or staminodes, which are slender, graceful, longer than the petals, dotted with crimson or purple glandular dots, upright. Petals and staminodes together make a light, airy flower in shades of rich pink or mauve marked purple or wine red, very occasionally white; fertile stamens 5, with 5 white filaments, as long as the petals, bearing purple-brown anthers; ovary glandular, on a long gynophore.

Fruit knobbly, 5-valved, brown and woody capsule, 3.5-6 cm in diameter, containing several seeds. Seeds small, 1.5 cm long, angled, oily, jet black or black striped with white edge, smooth. 

The generic name comes from the Greek words ‘kalos’, meaning ‘beautiful’ and ‘dendron’, meaning ‘tree’; the specific name ‘capense’ means from the Cape.

Ecology

C. capense can be found growing in wooded ravines, in evergreen fringe forest, at the coast, sometimes in scrub. It is not restricted to any specific habitat. Trees in forests tend to have straight stems, sometimes buttressed, but trees growing in hot, dry valleys are low and gnarled with dark grey bark and small leaves and flowers. Well-established trees growing in favourable tree or bush groups can survive up to 8 degrees of frost. They can also grow in areas with bitterly cold winters but will not flower regularly. The hardy and drought-resistant trees occur naturally from Kenya in the north to the western Cape in the south. In Uganda, the species occurs only rarely in scattered patches of woodland in Mbarara District.

Native range
Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda

Tree management

C. capense is slow growing in most conditions; it coppices while young, and pollarding is a suitable practice. In warm areas with high rainfall, the growth rate can be up to 850 mm/year. Trees can be planted either in the shade or in full sun. They respond well to regular watering, and cut flowers are long lasting in water.

Seeds can be stored for up to a year if kept insect-free. There are about 600 seeds/kg.

C. capense can be found growing in wooded ravines, in evergreen fringe forest, at the coast, sometimes in scrub. It is not restricted to any specific habitat. Trees in forests tend to have straight stems, sometimes buttressed, but trees growing in hot, dry valleys are low and gnarled with dark grey bark and small leaves and flowers. Well-established trees growing in favourable tree or bush groups can survive up to 8 degrees of frost. They can also grow in areas with bitterly cold winters but will not flower regularly. The hardy and drought-resistant trees occur naturally from Kenya in the north to the western Cape in the south. In Uganda, the species occurs only rarely in scattered patches of woodland in Mbarara District.

Trees are easily cultivated from seed. Fresh seed can be sown in deep seedling trays filled with river sand. The seeds normally germinate in 10-40 days, with a germination rate of 80-90%. Germination may be erratic if old seeds are sown. The species can be propagated successfully from cuttings made from half-grown shoots, but they must be treated with a root-stimulating hormone. Young trees are easily planted out. Artificial propagation by wildings and seedlings is possible. Trees grown from seed will flower after 6-7 years, and those grown from cuttings after 4 years.

Apiculture:  Trees provide bee forage.

C. capense is suitable for firewood and charcoal.

Timber:  The timber is white or light yellow, sometimes with brown markings, and with little difference between sapwood and heartwood. It is fairly hard, moderately heavy (700-800 kg/cubic m), bends well and is easily worked. It is used for tent bows, wagon making, yokes, planking, shovel handles and furniture.

Shade or shelter:  Trees provide valuable shade and also act as windbreaks.

Ornamental: C. capense has a non-aggressive root system; at the coast, where it is evergreen, it is suitable for street and parking lot planting. It makes an attractive specimen tree, especially on a lawn, with its light grey bark, large leaves, masses of pink flowers and knobbly fruit.

Soil improver:  Leaf-fall is very heavy so trees provide mulch.

Intercropping: C. capense is grown in banana plantations.

Essential oil:  The kernel yields a lemon-yellow, rather bitter, fixed oil that can be used for making soap.