The shepherd's tree is the most common of the eight species in its genus and is usually found in the drier parts of southern Africa. It is often called the Tree of Life as it offers sustenance to both humans and animals.This is a small to medium-sized tree reaching heights of 7 m.It has an attractive dense, round to spreading crown. The trunk is distinctly smooth and white or whitish grey with bare stems.The leathery, grey-green leaves are arranged in clusters, are oblanceolate, 20-50 x 6-25 mm, entire and have a round apex.The flowers are yellowish green and heavily scented (July-Nov.) They are borne in clusters on short lateral shoots and are without petals. The flowers have 6-15 stamens; the filaments are glabrous. The gynophore (stalk of the gynoecium which consists of the ovary, style and stigma) is 3 mm long; the ovary is an ovoid and glabrous filament, with 10 ovules on 2 placentas. The style is 0.5 mm long and glabrous, with a subcapitate stigma. The fruit is 10 mm in diameter, globose, yellowish and smooth. The seed is usually single.
