Gauteng Smallholder November 2015 | Page 25

From page 22 high. Such a clump is typically a single plant, as gifblaar has a huge underground root system - likened to an underground tree - and sends numerous shoots above ground in favourable conditions. The most obvious above ground parts are the leaves simple, alternate with initially fine hairs, but later becoming smooth. The leaves are bright green in colour on both sides. The secondary veins form loops and do not reach the margin. The flowers are small and white, and occur as dense clumps in the early spring. Fruit formation is rare; the fruits are orange and leathery and, surprisingly, are not poisonous. Unfortunately, gifblaar is easily confused with a number of other species, notably the sand apple or goorappel Pygmaeothamnus zeyheri, which looks almost identical and is found in the same regions, as well as dwarf mobola or grysappeltjie (Parinari capensis) and another variety of sand apple, Pygmaeothamnus chamaedendrum. Moreover, a number of species have also been identified as indicator species, meaning that if you have them growing on your land POISONOUS PLANTS Gifblaar develops a huge underground root system, making mechanical removal ineffective. there is a good chance that you may have gifblaar as well. These include wild seringa (Burkea africana), peeling plane or lekkerbreek (Ochna pulchra) and silver cluster leaf or vaalboom (Terminalia sericea). Mechanical methods of removal have proven to be ineffective because of the be repeated. Gifblaar-infested camps are not ungrazeable per se. plant's extensive root system Nevertheless caution should be taken and animals should and the plant's ability to set roots and regenerate from tiny only be grazed later in the season, and the camps fragments left in the soil after should not be overgrazed. uprooting it. Some smallholders prefer to Research has shown that it is possible to control gifblaar by fence off infested areas, but using commercial herbicides, this is not always practicable. but this is only effective if there are small numbers of the plants and application can 23 www.sasmallholder.co.za