Sickle Bush (Dichrosachys cinerea)

Unmistakeable to identify as no other tree has a seedpod which curls up like this and the flowers are half pink and half yellow. This tree also belongs to the Mimosoideae family and is restricted to the central to northern parts of South Africa.

They do not grow to great heights being 5-6 m at most. The pink half of the flower consists of sterile staminodes while the yellow half is fertile flowers.

 Cattle and game eat the pods of this tree with relish and various parts feature in African folk-medicine.

The roots are chewed and placed on sites of snake bites and scorpion stings and the leaves are believed to produce a local anaesthesia and used for the same purpose and also as a remedy for sore eyes and toothache.

The wood is extremely hard and durable and poles and axe handles are made from it.

 It has limited uses though as the pieces obtainable from it are small.