Hyaenanche globosa dry male flower remains

Dried leftovers of dead male flowers of the gifboom, botanically known as Hyaenanche globosa, can be seen here in a dense cluster, just above a whorl of leaves. The flowers of this plant, both the male and female ones (that grow on different trees), grow from the leaf axils.

The generic name of Hyaenanche does link the gifboom to the hyena that was killed in olden times by using the potent poison found in the fruits of the plant (and maybe its leaves). The specific name of globosa probably refers to the rounded shape of the fruits.

Colour change has started on the visible bit of ageing stem in picture: no longer green as the youngest branchlets, but a pinkish brown with small cracks bringing a rough texture to the stem surface. It will become grey and leafless later. 

Some of the leaf margins are tinged pink here; elsewhere they are often creamy to pale yellow. Leaf margins of this tree are smooth and appear solidly ridged (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).