Sapium ellipticum (Hochst.) Pax

Sapium ellipticum is a small to medium-sized, deciduous or semi-deciduous tree up to 12 m in height, occasionally reaching 20-25 m (max. 35). Bark light brown to very dark (almost black) and rough; branchlets are smooth and tend to droop. The young parts exude white latex when cut. Leaves elliptic to oblong lanceolate, simple, 6-15 x 2.5-4 cm, dark green, glossy, alternate; apex tapering, often attenuate; base tapering to almost rounded; margin irregularly toothed to scalloped, 1-2 glands at each side of the base, borne on short stalks; midrib and veins raised below with about 10 pairs of side veins; petiole up to 10 mm long. Flowers yellow, 5-10 cm long, in axillary or terminal catkinlike spikes at the ends of branchlets; no petals or sepals; numerous male flowers above with yellow stamens; 1-5 rounded female flowers at the base, larger, on longer stalks than males. Fruit a 1-2 lobed capsule about 10 x 7 mm, reddish, leathery, usually crowned with the remnants of the persistent styles, without horns, dehiscent, containing round, pale brown seeds. The specific name ‘ellipticum’ refers to the shape of the leaves, which are often elliptic.

In southern Africa, flowering occurs from November to April and fruiting from March to August. S. ellipticum is monoecious, flowers are unisexual.

S. ellipticum is common on the outskirts of evergreen forest and in wooded ravines. It is a tree of the afromontane rainforest and undifferentiated afromontane forest (mixed podocarpus forest), often in clearings, riverine forest also in secondary montane evergreen bushland and closed lowland forest. In Zululand, it occurs as a canopy tree in swamp forest. Its occurrence ranges from Transkei through Natal and Zululand to the Transvaal lowveld, to eastern Africa and tropical Africa, in coastal forests, on forest margins and on stream banks. Trees are light demanding. They have become rare in some places because of incursions into their habitat.

Artificial regeneration is by wildings or direct sowing of seeds at the growing site; seeds do not require pretreatment.

Trees respond well to coppicing and pollarding.

Insect larvae that frequently infest the seeds straighten their bodies convulsively, causing the seeds to jump several centimetres into the air. Wood is liable to borer attack.

Ornamental: The attractive trees are suitable for planting in amenity areas.

Fuel: S. ellipticum is a source of firewood and is used to produce charcoal. Timber: The wood is soft, pale coloured, light in weight and tough, but not durable; it is used for tool handles and farm implements. Medicine: Leaves and roots are used to treat mumps.