| Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinioideae | > | Brachystegia | > | microphylla |
| Synonyms: |
Brachystegia tamarindoides Benth. subsp. microphylla (Harms) Chikuni (in part) |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Deciduous tree 6—12 m in height with flat spreading crown. Bark smooth, grey, flaking with a grey-brown underbark. Dormant axillary buds globose. Leaflets in 25—72 pairs, middle pairs the largest, 5–15 × 1–2 mm, linear to oblong-lanceolate; apex acute sometimes sharply pointed; base asymmetric, truncate; midvein subcentral; petiole 1-4 mm long. Flowers in terminal or axillary panicles; sepals 4 or 5; petals absent. Pods woody, flat, 5—10 cm long. |
| Notes: | The following key, constructed by Meg Coates Palgrave is a guide to separating Brachystegia glaucescens from B. microphylla. Leaflets in 25–72 closely pectinate pairs, usually touching, middle pairs 5–15 × 1–2 mm, midveins subcentral; petiole 1-4 mm long; in higher rainfall areas ... microphylla Leaflets in 7–23 pairs, not usually touching, middle pairs 10–30 × 2–10 mm, midveins almost central; petiole 2–6 mm long; widespread ... glaucescens |
| Derivation of specific name: | microphylla: small-leaved |
| Habitat: | Rocky foothills and escarpments in high rainfall and mist-belt areas. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1000 - 1800 m |
| Flowering time: | Sep-Oct |
| Worldwide distribution: | |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 119. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 241. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 212. 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 43. Smith, P. & Allen, Q. (2004). Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of the Miombo Woodlands Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 1 84246 073 0 Pages 104 - 105. (Includes a picture). |
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