Bushveld Candelabra – The Makweti Tree – Euphorbia Cooperi
One of the most frequently asked questions by most (if not all) our guests is: “What does Makweti mean?” Well, the answer is as simple as it is not. The camp is built in an area of the Welgevonden Game Reserve that is referred to as the “Makweti Gorge.” This gorge lies north of the camp and is the area we look onto from our breakfast deck down towards the Taaibos River Valley.
But this still doesn’t answer the question, what does Makweti mean and where is the gorge’s name derived from?
The name Makweti refers to the woody trees with succulent branches and leaves that are found in and around the camp, and is also known as the Bushveld Candelabra, or Euphorbia cooperi. It is believed that the local or traditional name in this region for the Euphorbia cooperi tree is “Makweti”, a Sepedi derived name. Sepedi is one of the 30 recognised dialects of the Northern Sotho language group, which is widely spoken in the northern and western areas of South Africa.
The Euphorbiaceae family has over 100 native species in the Southern African region, making it the second largest woody species family in the region. Although it appears as a succulent with fleshy branches and leaves, it is technically a tree. The species in this family are largely characterised by the abundance of a milky or watery latex in the branches and leaves. They are all highly toxic as a result.
The Makweti Tree is easily distinguished as a species by the distinct heart shaped branchlets. The groups or clusters of flowers, known as Cyathia, are greenish yellow in colour and form along the edge of these branchlets. Spines are present but are small, less than 8mm long. They flower in winter and attract a number of insect pollinators, including bees. Unlike the most common specie, Euphorbia ingens, Candelabra Tree or “Naboom”, the Makweti Tree loses its lower branches annually, leaving distinct round holes in the stem.
The latex of this tree is recorded to be the most toxic of the Euphorbia species and a number of medicinal and traditional uses are documented. Bundles of grass were soaked in the milky latex of the tree, then tied to a stone and thrown into ponds of water. Fish were stunned by the toxic latex and were found floating paralysed but breathing a mere 15 minutes later.
Honey made from the nectar from the flowers was known to cause a severe burning in the throat, which was aggravated by drinking water.
Whilst there are no official records of this tree’s traditional name, it is widely accepted in this area as the name given to the tree and hence where Makweti Safari Lodge‘s name came from. It is as characteristic in this area as Makweti Safari Lodge is.
Words and photographs from Neil Davison, with thanks.
References:
- Personal observations on Welgevonden Game Reserve
- Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa, Braam van Wyk, Piet van Wyk, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 1997
- Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of Southern Africa, revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 2002
