| Sneeze-wood Ptaeroxylon Obliquum |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Ptaeroxylon |
| Species: | P. obliquum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ptaeroxylon obliquum |
|
Ptaeroxylon obliquum is the botanical name for the Sneezewood tree. It is native to Southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
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The Ptaeroxylon obliquum is a species from the Rutaceae family. Rutaceae are most abundant in South Africa and Australia. [1] The term ptaeroxylon is Greek for sneeze and wood. [2] Obliquum refers to the oblique shape of the leaflets. The wood produces oils containing nieshoutol, which causes violent sneeze attacks by workers who are exposed to the tree. [3] Though sneezewood is not poisonous, it has been known to cause respiratory complications. It has been linked to asthma, rhinitis, and mucosal inflammation. [4]
The Ptaeroxylon obliquum plant is a shrub or medium deciduous tree that stands up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall. [5] The bark is whitest-grey and smooth when young, but fissured when aged. [6]
Leaflets are 2.5 x 1.3 cm marked asymmetrically. [7] They are blue-green to dark green in color and crowd near the ends of the branch in three to seven pairs of leaflets. [8]
The flowers on the tree are white to creamy yellow and smell sweet. [9] Sneezewood is very dense having a specific gravity of 1040 KG/cubic meter </ref>
Sneezewood is an extremely hard and durable timber tree. It often lasts longer than brass or iron when used for machine bearings. [10] In the past, sneezewood was used extensively for railway sleepers. [11] It can also be used to make furniture. In Mozambique it is used to make xylophone keys. [12]
Sneezewood is a very attractive wood with golden heartwood with light orange figures and is a favorite amongst woodturners.
Its scarcity today is due in part of its past use as fuel for steam tugs. [13] It has been used greatly for fencing and telegraphing poles as well. [14].
Sneezewood is also used medicinal and ritual purposes. The bark can be used to repel moths or as snuff to relieve headaches. [15] The resin has been used to get rid of warts and cattle ticks. [16]
The Xhosa have traditionally made snuff from it to relieve headaches [17]