Thorny Elm

Afrikaans name: Doringolm

Thorny Elm

Photo © Steven Herbert

Chaetacme aristata

The Thorny Elm can grow to a height of 13 metres or more but sometimes is little more that a shrub.

These trees are found along the eastern and north-eastern regions of South Africa. They are normally found near water in woodland as well as near the coast and in ravines.

The bark of the Thorny Elm is greyish and the branches sometimes have spines which give rise to its common name. The leaves are big at a lengh of 9 cm. During spring and early summer small greenish flowers appear.

The wood of the Thorny Elm is not often used as it is very tough and difficult to work with.

References and further reading

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 14

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 128

What s that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 80

Everyone s Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 21

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 106

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 290

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 66

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 87

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 84

For more info: SANBI

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