Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinioideae | > | Colophospermum | > | mopane |
Synonyms: |
Copaifera mopane J. Kirk ex Benth. Hardwickia mopane (J. Kirk ex Benth.) Breteler |
Common names: | Mopane (English) Mopani (English) Turpentine tree (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small to medium-sized deciduous tree of hot low altitudes. Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets asymmetric, up to 9 × 5 cm with several veins from the base. A terminal appendage may be present between the leaflets. Inflorescence. up to 7 cm. Flowers greenish. Sepals 4, 2 outer ± 6 × 5 mm, 2 inner ± 5.5 × 4.5 mm, ± reflexed in flower; petals absent; filaments long (up to 6 mm), exserted. Pod 3.5-6 × 2-3.2 cm. Seed ± 2.5 × 1.4 cm. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | mopane: from the local name in Setswana and many other languages in Southern Africa. |
Habitat: | Forms stands at lower and mid altitudes of often small to medium-sized trees or thickets of low shrubs; an indicator of low rainfall and shallow poorly-drained Sodium-rich soils. |
Flowering time: | Oct - Mar (flowering erratic) |
Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, South Africa, just entering northern Mpumalanga. |
Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Gonimbrasia belina (Larval foodplant) Gynanisa maja (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Saturday 25 May 2019 |
Literature: |
Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 36 - 39. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 253. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 101 - 106. (Includes a picture). Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 202 - 203. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 60. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 213. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 242. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 253. (Includes a picture). Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 138 - 139. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 43. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 53. Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 122 - 125. (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 184 - 186. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 63. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 21. as Copaifera mopane Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 209. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 378 - 379. (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (2013). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Second edition) Struik, South Africa Pages 440 - 441. (Includes a picture). |
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