Real yellowwood
Was been used for everything from furniture making to railway sleepers.
Real yellowwood is a slow-growing evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 meters in height and 3 meters in diameter.
The wood is very hard and has a fine pale yellow color. It has been used for furniture and flooring, and The South African Railways used to use the timber to make railway sleepers.
An unusual use was as a butchers’ block. This was because the wood is hard, it does not chip easily, and it does not affect the taste of the meat.
The timber of real yellowwood has been so sought after that the species has been threatened with extinction in some areas. Today, all the species of yellowwood are protected in South Africa.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
- Danish name: Bredbladet sydtaks
- Latin name: Podocarpus latifolius
- Family: Yellowwood family / Podocarpaceae
- Natural habitat: Coastal regions of South Africa