Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhandar River below Nhancuco, lower slopes of Mt Gorongosa.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mpunga Camp, Moribane Forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near forest track, Moribane Forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Nhago Camp, Coutada 12.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chironde area, Coutada 12, Cheringoma

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Synonyms:	Erythrophleum guineense G. Don
Common names:	Forest ordeal tree (English) Gomati (Shona) Musanha (Shona) Muteyo (Shona)
Frequency:	Rare
Status:	Native
Description:	Medium to large tree to 20 m. Bark rough and blackish. Leaves 2-pinnate with 2-3 pairs of pinnae; leaflets 7-13 per pinna, large, alternate, ovate, up to 5 × 2.5 cm, glossy dark green. Flowers in fluffy spikes, cream to yellow. Fruit a hard, flat woody pod, splitting along one side while still on the tree.
Notes:	The english name comes from the historic use of the crushed bark in trials by ordeal.
Derivation of specific name:	suaveolens: sweet-scented
Habitat:	By stream sides and in forest at low altitudes
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Aug - Nov
Worldwide distribution:
Zimbabwe distribution:	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:	Saturday 25 July 2009
Literature:	Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 205 - 207. (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 256. (Includes a picture). 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. 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 44. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 91. 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 73. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 93.

Other sources of information about Erythrophleum suaveolens:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Erythrophleum suaveolens
Flora of Mozambique: Erythrophleum suaveolens
Flora of Zambia: Erythrophleum suaveolens

External websites:

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