Jumping Seed Tree

Afrikaans name: Springsaadboom

Jumping Seed Tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Sapium ellipticum

This is one of a small group of trees known as Jumping Bean or Jumping Seed trees. It is quite confusing when you find the seeds of these trees on the ground and jumping a few centimetres into the air every now and then. This is caused by the seeds containing the larvae of a moth. As the larva straightens intself it causes the seed to jump into the air.

The Jumping Seed Tree grows to a height of around 12 metres although some specimens are significantly bigger. They normally grow along the edges of evergreen forests but are also found in swamps.

The yellow flowers appear in spikes throughout summer. The seedpods are ip to 1 cm long.

Leaves of the Jumping Seed Tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

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References and further reading

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Year Published: 1994 - Page: 232

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Year Published: 2002 - Page: 521