Candlewood – Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus

(Kershout)

Candlewood occurs from the Cape Peninsula through to Natal.

The Tree

It is a small evergreen to medium-sized tree of about 7m tall.  It can grow up to 20m.

The bark is grey- or reddish-brown which becomes darker, corky and fissured.

The simple, alternate shiny leaves are ovate and rounded to shallowly notched at the top.  The dark green leaves are leathery, thick and brittle.  The leaf stalk is thickset and may be reddish.  The lateral and midrib veins are pale and prominent on the underside.  The midrib is wedge-shaped, broad at the base of the leaf, running out well before the tip. The leaves at the growing tip curl backwards.

The bright orange fruit is a 3-lobed capsule, each lobe with one or two wing-like horns – about 10mm in diameter.  It splits open with three valves to release 1-3 reddish-black seeds.  July – March.

The small, fragrant flowers are creamy white and are in clusters in the axils of the leaf stalks – 10-20mm long.  July – November.

The branches and roots contain a flammable resin, and early colonists used it to make torches, hence the original Afrikaans common name, “Kersehout”.

The bark and the roots are used medicinally.  The bark, which is rich in tannin, can also be used to tan leather.

Properties

The timber colour is pink to mauve-pink when freshly sawn, but changes to mahogany brown.  The heartwood is dark reddish-brown to purplish, distinct from the pinkish sapwood.  The wood is beautifully marked and the texture of the wood is fine and the grain is straight to spiral.  The wood produces striking cathedral figuring.

Woodworking Properties

The wood saws easily, despite being hard and heavy.  The wood is difficult to plane, but a smooth finish is obtainable.  It smoothes easily, to a shiny, yet lustreless surface, glues well and takes all finishes.  The wood has good turning properties and peels moderately easily for decorative veneer.

Using the Wood

Candlewood is durable and is generally used for flooring, paneling and tool handles.  It is also used for turning, for small furniture work pieces and for ornaments.  It makes very good firewood.

Green weight:  1250 kg/m3

Dry weight:      1070 kg/m3

Sources:  Trees of the Garden Route by Elna Venter

Southern African Wood by Stephanie Dyer, Barry James & Danielle James

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