Euclea undulata

Euclea undulata, the common guarri or small-leaved guarri, is a dense, evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 4 m, occasionally reaching 7 m (SA Tree List No. 601). A neat, dense, rounded canopy is typical.

The common guarri grows everywhere in South Africa apart from the sandy far Northern Cape and parts of the Free State. The photo was taken near Montagu, more of the same trees scattered in the distance among the short scrub.

The habitat is inevitably highly variable over such a large distribution that extends into tropical Africa. The trees may be scattered sparsely or form thickets. They grow on rocky slopes and ridges covered in scrub, open woodland in grass or in mopane veld and more. They often grow in brackish soils, but also near watercourses, on termite mounds and on land from arid to tropical regions. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Grant, et al, 2003; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993; http://redlist.sanbi.org).