Schotia afra

Schotia afra, commonly known as the Karoo boerbean, is a small, much-branched tree growing a rounded crown at heights from 3 m to 5 m (SA Tree List No. 201 and 201.1). Often shrub-like, the basal stem may be twisted and gnarled.

The species comprises two varieties, var. afra distributed coastally and somewhat inland in the central to eastern parts of the Western Cape, to the western and central parts of the Eastern Cape, and var. angustifolia found in the north of the Northern Cape and the south of Namibia.

The habitat is coastal, karoid and semidesert scrub, thicket, seasonal streambanks and Namaqualand dry watercourses. The habitat populations of both varieties are deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

The tree is popular as a garden plant. Indigenous people used to eat the seeds as they are, roasted, or ground up (Venter, 2012; Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist; https://redlist.sanbi.org).