Guibourtia coleosperma (Benth.) J. LĂ©onard

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Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Between railway line and Main Camp, Hwange National Park

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Between railway line and Main Camp, Hwange National Park

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Hwange NP, on loop from Main Camp through Dopi Pan

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
By road to Hwange NP, Main Camp.

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bembesi Forest Land, by main road from Hwange to Bulawayo

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bembesi Forest Land, by main road from Hwange to Bulawayo

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Vivienne Williams
Area outside of the exclosure at the Painted Dog Conservation facility, by road to Main Camp, Hwange

Guibourtia coleosperma

Photo: Vivienne Williams
Area outside of the exclosure at the Painted Dog Conservation facility, by road to Main Camp, Hwange

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

Synonyms: Copaifera coleosperma Benth.
Common names: Large false mopane (English) Mchibi (English) Rhodesian mahogany (English) Umtshibi (Ndebele)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Medium to large, almost evergreen, tree, to 20 m. Bark very characteristic, pinkish-cream with flaking patches of dark brown to black. The dark patches are often very extensive in older trees, giving them a burnt look. Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets broadly sickle-shaped, 3-10 cm long, very asymmetric, glossy green above, paler below, hairless; apex acuminate. Flowers in lax terminal heads, creamy-white, c. 1 cm in diameter. Fruit a broad, woody pod, only 2-3 cm long, dark brown, splitting on one side only, partially releasing a single brown seed with a bright red aril, which is still attached to the pod by a narrow stalk.
Notes: Note: the seeds and arils are eaten and have saved the lives of people in times of famine.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: Occurring almost exclusively on Kalahari sand in open woodland and dry forest.
Altitude range: (metres) 750 - 1400 m
Flowering time:(Oct-)Dec - Mar
Worldwide distribution: Angola, southern DRC, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution: W
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: Sunday 22 July 2007
Literature:

Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 44 - 46. (Includes a picture).

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 318. (Includes a picture).

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 204 - 205. (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.

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 254. (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 44.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 67.

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 21. as Copaifera colesperma

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).

Wild, H., Biegel, H.M. & Mavi, S. (1972). A Rhodesian Botanical Dictionary of African and English Plant Names Ministry of Agriculture Page 177.


Other sources of information about Guibourtia coleosperma:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Guibourtia coleosperma
Flora of Caprivi: Guibourtia coleosperma
Flora of Zambia: Guibourtia coleosperma

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Guibourtia coleosperma.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=126570, retrieved 3 December 2024

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