Kiggelaria africana trunk

The trunk of a mature Kiggelaria africana tree has pale brown to grey bark that darkens with age. Initially smooth, flaking and a little fissuring bring some roughness to the surface.

In the photo the stem surface reminds of a relief map of the arid South African inland region. The tree grows a single stem as in the photo or becomes multi-stemmed.

On young stems the surfaces are striated or grooved, yellowish brown and velvety from a hairy covering (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).