Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C. DC.

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Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chirinda Forest

Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Hotel Golf Course, Vumba

Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Hotel Golf Course, Vumba

Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Hotel Golf Course, Vumba

Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Mark Hyde
By Mazowe River, Hippo Pools

Khaya anthotheca

Photo: Mark Hyde
By Mazowe River, Hippo Pools

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Khaya nyasica Stapf ex Baker f.
Common names: Mubarwa (Shona) Mururu (Shona) Muwawa (Shona) Red mahogany (English)
Description: Large to very large evergreen tree with a long straight stem. Bark fairly smooth but flaking; large trees often buttressed. Leaves spirally arranged, paripinnate with 2-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets oblong-elliptic, up to 17 cm long, glossy green above, paler below, glabrous, apex abruptly tapering in to a short point, base slightly asymmetric; margin entire. Flowers in axillary branched heads, white, c. 1 cm in diameter, sweetly scented. Fruit ovoid, woody, 3 - 5 cm in diameter, splitting into 4-5 valves, pale brown. Seeds winged.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Flowering time:Sep - Dec
Worldwide distribution: DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Growth form(s): Tree.
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated: Saturday 23 December 2006
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 382. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 35.

Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 222 - 225. as Khaya nyasica (Includes a picture).

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 23. As Khaya nyassica

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 249. As Khaya nyasica

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 62.

Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 305. (Includes a picture).

Parker, T. (2023). Common Trees of Mozambique The Tree Press, Austin, Texas, USA Pages 264 - 265. (Includes a picture).

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Pages 32 - 33. as Khaya nyasica (Includes a picture).

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 121.

Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 74.

White, F. & Styles, B.T. (1963). Meliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 287 - 289. As Khaya nyasica (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Khaya anthotheca:

Our websites:

Flora of the DRC: Khaya anthotheca
Flora of Malawi: Khaya anthotheca
Flora of Mozambique: Khaya anthotheca
Flora of Zambia: Khaya anthotheca
Flora of Zimbabwe: Khaya anthotheca

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Khaya anthotheca
African Plant Database: Khaya anthotheca
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Khaya anthotheca
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Khaya anthotheca
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Khaya anthotheca
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Khaya anthotheca
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Khaya anthotheca
JSTOR Plant Science: Khaya anthotheca
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Khaya anthotheca
Plants of the World Online: Khaya anthotheca
Tropicos: Khaya anthotheca
Wikipedia: Khaya anthotheca


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated Plants: Species information: Khaya anthotheca.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=133440, retrieved 20 July 2025

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