Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Mimosoideae | > | Albizia | > | versicolor |
Synonyms: |
Albizia mossambicensis Sim |
Common names: | Mubungati (Shona) Mugaranyenze (Shona) Mukauzane (Shona) Muriranyedzi (Shona) Poison-pod albizia (English) Umnonjwana (Ndebele) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Medium to large deciduous tree, often with a spreading crown. Bark greyish-brown, rough; young branchlets hairy. Leaves with 1-4 pairs of pinnae; leaflets in 3-5 pairs per pinna, large, c. 5.5 × 3 cm, broadly ovate, leathery, hairy on both sides; petiole with a gland just above the base. Flowers in large, fluffy, semi-spherical heads, creamy-white, appearing with the young leaves; stamens up to 7 cm. Pods hairless, reddish-brown up to 27 × 6 cm. |
Notes: | The pods contain a toxin called tetramethoxypyridoxine. It causes a disease known as albiziosis. Poisoning usually occurs in late winter when pods are blown off the trees and ingested by animals. It results in a variety of neurological symptoms progressing to death. Source: Roy Wakefield |
Derivation of specific name: | versicolor: from Latin: verso meaning to keep turning and colorem, colour, referring to the change in colour of the new leaves which are pinkish-red. |
Habitat: | In a variety of open woodland habitats. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1550 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | From DRC to Kenya and South to KwaZulu-Natal and Angola. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 5 January 2015 |
Literature: |
Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 20. Brenan, J.P.M. (1970). Mimosoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(1) Pages 117 - 118. (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 228. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 4. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 3. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 128 - 129. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 215. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 240. 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 45. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 61. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 26. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 16. as Albizzia versicolor Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 94. 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 210. |
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