Mother Nature has bestowed upon humanity countless wonderful things, as well as some strange phenomena. One such phenomenon is a tree that astonishes many due to its tendency to “bleed” when cut.
This unique tree is known as Corymbia opaca (originating from Australia), commonly referred to by locals as the desert bloodwood tree.
Desert bloodwood tree.
At first glance, Corymbia opaca resembles many other tree species, but it becomes truly distinct when it is “wounded” by a cut. This is when dark red liquid, reminiscent of blood, begins to ooze out, creating a rather frightening sight.
Despite their appearance being similar to other tree types, something remarkable occurs when you make a cut on the trunk, causing dark red liquid to emerge.
The “blood” of the desert bloodwood tree is not watery; instead, it is quite thick and viscous, resembling glue. It flows down in streams and quickly dries, adhering firmly to the tree trunk.
“Blood” of this tree is quite thick and viscous like glue.
The resin from this tree is used to prepare medicine for treating colds and other ailments.
Not only is Corymbia opaca noted for its strange “blood”, but it is also known for its remarkable medicinal properties. Indigenous Australians often harvest the tree’s resin (which contains a large amount of tannin, a substance commonly used in medicine) to prepare remedies for colds and various other ailments.
While it poses no harm to humans, the sight of this tree’s resin can certainly make many people shudder.
Not exclusive to Australia, South Africa is home to another tree that can bleed like Corymbia opaca, known as Pterocarpus angolensis.
Pterocarpus angolensis contains a sticky red resin.
Pterocarpus angolensis is a woody plant with the peculiar ability to bleed. This tree is also known by other names such as Kiaat, Mukwa, or the bleeding tree.
Pterocarpus angolensis produces a sticky red resin. Its leaves grow alternately, are relatively sparse with leaflets evenly spaced and parallel curved veins. The flowers are bisexual, resembling pea flowers, growing in clusters with wrinkled pale yellow petals. The fruit is a unique, flat, hard, spherical pod that does not split open.
Pterocarpus angolensis offers numerous economic and medicinal benefits: it is used to treat ailments related to the eyes, stomach, or blood. The resin of the tree is employed by locals as a dye, and they also mix it with animal fat to create a skincare product.
The wood of this tree is utilized to produce valuable items, such as for boat building or flooring.
