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Do you mean the buffalo thorn tree otherwise known as ziziphus mucronata?. This tree is not poisonous, but it does have lots of medicinal properties for such things as stomach problems, carbuncles & chest complaints....... it's also used by the indiginous populations as a spirit/burial tree.

There are also a few which can cause severe itching and the usual treatment is to look for the nearest shower of piece of flatdog & bilharzia free water.

I'm afraid I can't remember a story about Hunter having problems with a thorn tree and can't think of one that would cause big problems. They're generally a bit of a nuisance and some like the wait-a-bit can actually hurt but nothing more. Anyway, Africa wouldn't be Africa without a few thorn trees around.

As a matter of interest, did you know that the Acacia Tortillis can sense when it's being browsed upon and will raise the level of tannin in it's own leaves in an attempt to make the leaves more bitter and force the animals to move elsewhere. At the same time they also release pheremones to blow downwind to 'warn' the other Acacia Tortillis' what is going on and then they do the same with their own tannin levels......which is why species such as kudu & nyala etc will always browse upwind and not downwind.

.....and another useless piece of information is don't walk under a sausage tree as if the sausages fall on you they just might cause you serious damage.....

......and if you're not too bored yet. Did you know that the sap from the euphorbias and/or the tamboti can also be used to temporarily stun fish, and cure toothache.

And last but not least, (for now) the sickle bush has incredibly hard thorn like stcky outy bits that will go right through a tyre or even worse right through a shoe sole and into the foot......and it bloody hurts!

Think yourself lucky that you're only reading this on the forum and not hunting with me.....cos I can waffle on like this for hours

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Steve "Shakari" Robinson
Kuduland Safaris (Africa) Ltd
info@kuduland.com
www.kuduland.com

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