OBETIA TENAX

This member of the Urticaceae family was named by Ib Friis in 1983. It is found in south-eastern Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and some to lots of sun. The stem can grow up to 30 centimetres in diameter, the whole tree seven meters height. The flowers are pale yellow and green.

The genera name puzzles me. Could be from Latin obesus; ' swollen' for the stem, or from Obeah; a form of folk magic, medicine or witchcraft originating in Africa? It was published by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in Voyage autour de Monde éxécuté pendant les Années 1836 et 1837 sur la Corvette la Bonite... Botanique 1844. The genera name from Latin; 'tough' for the branches. The young plants have swollen roots. The stem can grow to 30 centimetres. My small seedlings. Already needles on the first true leaves. The flowers/fruits. The seeds are tiny!