English: White Ironwood Tree.
Name: Veprisis form the Latin word vepres meaning a bramble or thorny shrub.
Genus: ± 80 species.
Region:
Madagascar; other species in tropical Africa, Zanzibar, Mascarene islands; extend in Arabia and India.
Ecology: caterpillars feed on this tree, Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio demodocus; porcupines eat the bark and ultimately ring-bark the trees, causing them to die.
Use: leaves burnt to dispel evil spirits; wood for wheel spokes, handles, roof beams, furniture, ornaments, turnery.
BotanyShrub or trees.
Stem: wood is hard, heavy, strong, elastic, even-grained. with a whitish to pale yellow colour.
Literaturewww.plantzafrica.com