COMBRETACEAE

Terminalia prunioides

Purple-pod Cluster-leaf

Trees & Shrubs

Local Context

Common tree or shrub across the estate, especially near the Sandspruit river, drainage lines and rocky hillsides. Many residents find them when investigating where the stinky socks smell comes from (their flowers!). The striking winged seed pods often develop while the tree is still flowering.

Identification

Growth: Small deciduous tree or shrub (7–15 m tall) with a narrow to rounded crown and rough, deeply fissured pale grey to grey-black bark; spines are occasionally present on the branches.
Flowers: Cream or white (often with a strong, unpleasant smell), arranged in slender spikes (5–8 cm long) that grow from the leaf clusters.
Leaves: Clustered together in bundles on short side shoots; widely egg-shaped or oval (up to 7.5 cm long), often covered in dense hairs when young but becoming smooth and hairless with age.
Texture: Leaves are firm and papery; the fruit often turns a deep plum color.
Fruit: Flat, winged fruit (4–6.5 cm long) that is elliptic in shape and turns a distinctive deep purple, red, or reddish-brown color when ripe.

Did You Know?

The name Terminalia prunioides is a classic example of descriptive botanical Latin that highlights the tree’s most defining physical features. The genus name, Terminalia, is derived from the Latin terminalis (ending), referring to the characteristic way the leaves are crowded in clusters at the very tips, or termini, of the branches. The specific epithet, prunioides, combines prunus (plum) with the suffix -oides (resembling); this describes the tree's striking, winged fruits which turn a deep plum-purple colour as they mature.

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