Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile
var. aegyptiaca

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Hot Springs, Save Valley.

Photo: Mark Hyde
By road in to Hippo Pools

Photo: Rob Burrett
Near Neshuro village, close to the Runde River Bridge on Hre-Beitbridge rd, Mwenezi District.

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Muvambangoma (Shona) Nyahoko (Shona) Simple-thorned torchwood (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small evergreen tree, armed with robust green or yellowish spines. Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets asymmetrical obovate-elliptic, bright green, leathery; margin entire. Flowers small, greenish-white, in axillary clusters. Fruit a drupe, narrowly ellipsoid or cylindric, longitudinally ribbed, yellowish-red when ripe, edible.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	aegyptiaca: of Egypt
Habitat:	In dry wooded grassland, often on alluvial soils near rivers.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread from Senegal to Somalia and from Egypt south to Zimbabwe; also in Jordan and the Arabian peninsula
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:	Thursday 8 October 2020
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 347. (Includes a picture). Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 256. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 248. As Balanites aegyptiaca Launert, E. (1963). Balanitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Page 223. As Balanites aegyptiaca 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 29. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 39.

Other sources of information about Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca
Flora of Caprivi: Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca
Flora of Mozambique: Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca
Flora of Zambia: Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca

External websites:

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