Buffalo Thorn Tree
(Ziziphus mucronata)
Buffalo’s do back into the tree when defending themselves against lions, knowing the lions cannot attack through the heavily thorned branches. When a Zulu dies relatives will take a branch to the body and the deseased spirit will enter the branch and can be kept in the family home. It also reflects life. Young twigs zig-zag and this indicates that life is not always straight forward. The two thorns that are found at the nodes are also important as one faces backwards, representing where we have come from. The other faces forward, representing where we are going. It is also said that in a storm the tree will protect you from lightning.
