Africa Wild Tree & Shrub Book - Order Fabales

[Flutterby]

202. Weeping Boer-Bean Schotia brachypetala
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae

© serval

© Toko

© Toko
Mlilwane, Swaziland

© Mposthumus
Kruger National Park, Pretoriuskop Sourveld

© Flutterby
Kruger National Park, Pretoriuskop Sourveld

Description:
Flowers: Aug - Oct; Fruit: Mar - Sep.
In spring, clusters of bright, waxy flowers create dramatic splashes of crimson which attract birds and insects. Surprisingly, the flowers have either no petals or they are small and insignificant. Instead it is the sepals which are shaped in such a way that they act as minature goblets for the abundant life-giving nectar.
The Weeping Boer-bean has been known to reach an incredible height of 22 m, although 10-12 m is more common. It is widespreading with a rounded crown and this attractive shape, together with the exceptional display of flowers, has made it a popular choice when a decorative garden tree is sought. Grown from seed or truncheon, the Weeping Boer-bean is fairly cold resistant but is not considered to be very fast-growing.
The name derives from the edible seeds contained within the brown pods, literally translated as “farmer bean”. Roasted seeds were utilised by the Voortrekkers and the seeds were also ground-up and used to make a coffee substitute. The “weeping” referred to in the common name has been attributed to two factors; the parasitic spittle bugs which inhabit the tree, and the copious amounts of nectar present in the flowers. Another possible factor may have been the weeping and wailing that took place in the Boer laagers when the coffee ran out and there was not a Schotia in sight!

Distribution
A native of the southern parts of Africa, mainly sub-tropical. Its northernmost extent is on the edge of the Mashonaland Plateau just south of the Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe at about 17°S. It grows southwards to the eastern parts of South Africa, generally not near the coast but usually on hills away from the coastal winds and further inland. It southernmost extent is southwest of East London in the Eastern Cape of South Africa at about 33°S. It is a tree of woodland rather than forest.

Habitat
Often on termite mounds; also a riverine tree in the southern lowveld.

© Richprins

© Richprins
Spruit in Marloth

© leachy

© leachy

© leachy
Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park

Links: Wild About Trees; Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

[Flutterby]

222. Tree Wisteria Bolusanthus speciosus (Vanwykshout)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae



© leachy

© leachy
Kruger National Park

© leachy
Kruger National Park, S28

Description
A small to medium-sized deciduous tree, often multi-stemmed with drooping foliage, dropping its leaves only for a short period in early spring. The bark of the stem is brownish grey, rough and deeply vertically fissured. Leaves, which are spirally arranged, are suspended from drooping branches. Leaves imparipinnate with 3-7 pairs of leaflets plus a terminal leaflet; leaflets lanceolate with an asymmetric base, up to 7 cm; midrib and lateral veins yellowish and conspicuous; margin entire or irregularly scalloped. The drooping, blue-mauve, fragrant, pea-like flowers hang from the branches in bunches, often covering the whole tree. Flowering time is from August to January (spring and early summer). Flowers are followed by papery, brown fruit pods, that hang from the branches in clusters, and never split to release their seeds. Pod up to 7 cm, straw-coloured to grey-black when ripe.

Distribution
Southern Africa, from Angola and Zambia down to KwaZulu-Natal. Provincial distribution in South Africa: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga.

Habitat
In open woodland and wooded grassland, often with mopane.

Links: Piet Van Wyk: Southern African Trees: A Photographic Guide; PlantZAfrica

[Toko]

243.1 Dwarf Coral Tree, Small Kaffir Tree Erythrina humeana (Kleinkoraalboom, Kleinkafferboom)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae

© mposthumus
Kruger National Park, Mahonie Loop S99

Description
Deciduous large shrub or small slender tree, 1.5-3 m., often multistemmed. Stems, branches leaf-veins and petioles armed with recurved prickles. Leaves: compound (trifoliate), dark green, thin, leathery, hairless, with leaflets strongly 3-lobed-triangular with a long apical point, up to 12 × 13 cm. Flowers in terminal racemes after the leaves in late summer or autums (most other coral trees are spring-flowering!). Flowering stalks upright, long, narrow flower-heads. Produces red-orange spikes of penetrating brilliance terminating the branches while this coral is still a 3 0.9 m sprout.
Fruit a woody pod, strongly constricted between the seeds, purple-black, up to 15 cm long. Seeds red with a black hilum.

Distribution
Along the east coast of South Africa in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Nataland, also in the Lowveld in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Habitat
This tree grows in grasslands and on the fringes of small bush clumps, ranging over much of the warmer parts of the east and southeast. in open bushveld or thickets.

© Sharifa

© Sharifa
Garden in Gauteng

Links: Braam Van Wyk, Piet Van Wyk: How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa; Braam Van Wyk, Piet Van Wyk: Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa

[Toko]

245. Common Coral Tree, Lucky Bean Tree Erythrina lysistemon (Koraalboom)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae




Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Description
It is a small to medium deciduous tree of about 6 m with a spreading crown; in ideal circumstances it may reach 12 m in height. The bark is smooth, light grey to yellow-brown; scattered thorns on younger branches occasionally persist; the wood is soft. Trifoliolate leaves are up to 17 cm, on a long petiole. The flowers appear at the ends of the new branches before the new leaves of spring. Dense heads of narrow, outwardly curved, bright red or scarlet flowers hang from long sturdy stalks. Flowers are rich in nectar, popular with nectarivore bird species. The fruit is a long narrow seed pod of up to 15 cm that soon turns grey, brown or black and has marked constrictions between the individual orange to red coloured seeds; occuring in summer.
The tree is similar to E. caffra that grows in the eastern coastal parts of South Africa and which is taller and has orange red flowers.

Distribution
South Africa (Eastern Cape; KwaZulu-Natal; Mpumalanga; Gauteng; Limpopo; North West), Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi

Habitat
Open woodland, mountain slopes, bushveld and coastal thickets; medium to higher rainfall areas; wide range of altitudes

Links: Wild About Trees; Braam Van Wyk, Piet Van Wyk: How to Identify Trees in Southern Africa

[Toko]

238. Apple-leaf Philenoptera violacea (Appelblaar)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae




Kruger National Park

Description
A medium to large-sized, deciduous to semi-deciduous tree up to 15 m tall with a wide-spreading, dense and rounded crown. Main stem is tall, straight and bare but invariably bent and twisted. Bark grey and flaking on older branches and stem, but smooth, light grey and covered with dense hairs on younger branches, exuding a sticky red sap when cut. Leaves are large (7–20 cm long), unevenly compound with 1–3 pairs of opposite leaflets and one terminal leaflet, hard and rough in texture, shiny or glossy above and grey-green beneath, with prominent midribs. The terminal leaflets are always much bigger than the lower leaflets (about 18 cm long and 9 cm broad). Flowers scattered, usually borne in dense terminal sprays 12–30 cm long at the tips of the branches, varying in colour from white and pink to bluish-pink, mauve or deep violet, and are sweet-scented. They appear from September to December, before or together with the new leaves. Fruit a flat pod, non-splitting, relatively large (about 12 x 2.5 cm), hairless, tapering at both ends, persisting on the tree during winter, usually 2- or 3-seeded. Seeds kidney-shaped, reddish, compressed.

Distribution
From DRC and Tanzania to northern Namibia and Swaziland. In South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. In Limpopo it is found in the northern part of the province. In Mpumalanga it occurs in the warmer, almost frost-free parts of the Lowveld and the northern bushveld regions, and in KwaZulu-Natal it is distributed in the northern part of the province.

Habitat
On alluvial soils in woodland, usually near rivers.

[Toko]

236. Bloodwood, Kiaat, Wild Teak Pterocarpus angolensis (Bloedhout, Dolfhout)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae

© Moggiedog
Zimbabwe. The seed pod resembles a brown and papery, spiky, fried egg .

Description
Medium to large deciduous, spreading and slightly flat-crowned tree with a high canopy. The kiaat reaches about 15 m in height. Bark dark grey to brown, rough and fissured. This bark oozes a reddish-brown sap when damaged and this seals the wound; this is the origin of the name bloodwood. The shiny leaves are compound (divided into leaflets) and characteristically hang downwards. Leaves imparipinnate with 5-9 pairs of alternate to subopposite leaflets; leaflets elliptic-lanceolate to obovate, 2.5-7 cm, dark green above, paler below, hairy when young; apex tapering to a bristle-like tip. An abundance of scented flowers appear in spring. The flowering time is short, two to three weeks only. Flowers in large, branched sprays, orange-yellow, appearing before the leaves. Fruit a very distinctive circular pod, covered in long bristles over the seed case and surrounded by a large membranous wing.

Distribution
From DRC and Tanzania to Namibia and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga).

Habitat
On well drained soils in grassland and woodland. It grows in bushveld and woodland where the rainfall is above 500 mm per year and it favours rocky slopes or well-drained, deep, sandy soil.

Links: Ernst Schmidt, Mervyn Lotter, Warren McCleland:Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park; Rina Grant, Val Thomas: Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld, Including Pilanesberg and Magaliesberg

[Toko]

241. Nyala Tree Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Njalaboom)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae

© Toko






Kruger National Park

Description
It is a large (height up to 30 m) dense, evergreen riverine tree, that branches low down. It is usually recognizable by a characteristically large-grooved, gnarly single trunk and large canopy. The relatively small compound leaves are not individually visible from a distance of 30 m. The bark is dark grey, tinged with yellow.
The massive trunk, which is gnarled and crooked, often appears to be composed of multiple stems buttressed together, and has leaves growing directly from it. The relatively small compound leaves are not individually visible from a distance of 30 m. Compound, with a single leaf at the tip, alternate, oval, with smooth margins. The leaves are dark green and shiny, with about 7 pairs of leaflets with a terminal leaflet. (Leaf: 120 mm; leaflet: 55 x 20 mm)
The bark is dark grey, tinged with yellow. It is rough, does not peel, but is cracked into small, irregular squares.
The flowers are small with a prominent stamen. Sweet-scented, white to cream sprays grow at the end of the branches, November to December.
(Spray: 50 - 100 mm)
The grape-like fruits are green and turn dark brown from March. They stay on the tree for most of the year. (25 x 20 mm)
The tree is popular with many animals who seek its shade and fruit, such as elephants, giraffes, baboons, antelopes and birds, as well as insects who are attracted to the sweet-smelling blossoms.

Large evergreen tree with an elegant rounded crown. Leaves imparipinnate with subopposite or alternate leaflets. Leaflets elliptic, dark green and glossy above; paler below; margin entire. Flowers in axillary and terminal short sprays, white, rose-scented, not typically pea-shaped. Fruit unusual for this family, berry-like, yellowish-brown when ripe

Distribution
Botswana, Malawi,Mozambique, South Africa (Limpopo, Mpumalanga), Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is not found in Swaziland or in KwaZulu Natal.

Habitat
This tree grows on alluvial soils along river banks, as well as on deep, sandy soils of the Lowveld. In the Kruger single trees may be seen along the Sabie, and other rivers, but it is more common north of the Shingwedzi, where it grows along the rivers. Nyala trees are often found in conjunction with giant termite mounds, which do not damage the trees.

Links: Braam Van Wyk, Piet Van Wyk: Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa

[Twigga]

216. Wild Mango, Sunbird Tree Cordyla africana Wildemango
Order: Fabales: Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Faboideae

Did you know that Africa has its own mango? Although the fruit is not as big and tasty as the exotic one and it belongs to a different family, it is extremely rich in vitamin C.

Description
Cordyla africana is a tall, deciduous tree with a wide-spreading crown, 10-25 m.



Old stems are grey to dark grey and fairly smooth, the bark sporadically peeling off in thin longitudinal strips. Very old bark is rough and peels off in thin irregular sections. Living bark is dark green.



Leaves are 20-30 mm apart and arranged alternately along the twigs. They sometimes curve slightly downward but are so horizontally placed on either side of the twig that it resembles a flat, large, bipinnate leaf. Leaflets are thin and smooth, up to 45 x 20 mm. They are pale to dark green above but matt, pale green beneath, with translucent dots scattered across the surface of the blades.



The flowers are borne in short sprays in the axils of the leaves. They face upwards and are filled with nectar, which attracts sunbirds. They usually appear in September and October, together with the new leaves. Although the flowers are without petals, they are very showy with their feathery puff of golden stamens protruding from the cup-like calyx. The tree is a splendid sight when in flower.





Although the species belongs to the legume family, the fruit is pod-shaped only in a very juvenile stage. When mature, it is drupaceous, golden-yellow and glossy, with a soft, thin skin. It is oval and nearly always slightly depressed on one side. It has a thick persisting stalk. The fruit drops from the tree before it is quite ripe, completing the ripening process on the ground. It contains one or two large, pale brown seeds embedded in a jelly-like pulp. They often germinate while still in the fruit.





Conservation status
Cordyla africana is widespread in Africa, but only just enters South Africa on the eastern border. The conservation status for SA is Least Concern (LC), as it has a wide distribution range and the species is not threatened.

Distribution and habitat
The trees occur in hot, dry bushveld, riverine and sand forest and often on sandy soil. They are found mostly in sand forest and coastal forest in Maputaland in KwaZulu-Natal. In Mpumalanga, a few have been recorded near Komatipoort and Barberton and only a few in the Kruger National Park. A few are scattered across Swaziland. Further north, it is abundant in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Derivation of name and historical aspects
According to Joaõ de Loureiro, the Portuguese botanist-missionary who collected and described the tree in Portuguese East Africa, the generic name is based on a Greek word meaning club-shaped or thickened towards the apex, in allusion to the shape of the bud and fruit. The specific name means African.

Ecology
The flowers are pollinated by sunbirds which are attracted by the sweet nectar. Elephants are exceptionally fond of the fruit. Consequently, the seeds are distributed over a large area.

Uses and cultural aspect
It is used in particular to make African drums. The entire trunk is hollowed out. These drums are said to be sonorous and can be heard a great distance away. The wood is also used as building material. The unusual white latex sap from twigs and green fruit is used as gum.

All photos courtesy of Joan Young -
Links: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cordyafric.htm
http://natureswow2.blogspot.com/2013/01 ... rdyla.html
Piet Van Wyk: Southern African Trees: A Photographic Guide; Ernst Schmidt, Mervyn Lotter, Warren McCleland: Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

[Toko]

164.1 Flaky-bark Thorn, Flaky-bark Acacia Vachellia exuvialis, Acacia exuvialis (Skilferdoring)
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Mimosoideae

© Kesheshe
Kruger National Park

Desciption
Multistemmed shrub or small tree to 5 m. Bark peeling in orange-brown papery strips. Thorns paired, straight, up to 7 cm. long, whitish, often somewhat inflated near the base. Leaves with 2-4 pairs of pinnae; leaflets in 3-6 pairs per pinna, oblong, 4-10 mm long, largest leaflets at the ends of the pinnae; apex rounded with a small sharp tip; glands present on the rhachis between each pair of pinnae. Flowers in bright yellow spherical axillary heads, from October to February. Pods more or less strongly sickle-shaped, flattened and somewhat constricted between the seeds, up to c. 5 × 1 cm, glands inconspicuous or absent, dehiscent.

Distribution
South Africa (Limpopo, Mpumalanga), south-eastern Zimbabwe.

Habitat
In mixed, dry deciduous woodland, often in gravelly soils or on rocky ridges.

Links: Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park

[Toko]

148. Flat-crown Albizia, Rough-barked Flat-top Albizia adianthifolia (Platkroon )
Order: Fabales. Family: Fabaceae. Subfamily: Mimosoideae

© Lisbeth

© Lisbeth
South Coast, KwaZulu-Natal

Description
Albizia adianthifolia has a conspicuous flat crown, the few large branches grow upwards in a V-shape, and then spread out widely. It can reach a height of over 40 m. The bark is grey to reddish brown and rough with shallow squares, like scales. Branchlets and peduncles have grey to brown hairs with the young tips tinged pinkish red.
Leaves are very characteristic; the 4-8 pairs of pinnae bear 6-12 pairs of leaflets each. Every leaflet is obliquely rhombic-quadrate (rectangular) with the midrib diagonally across it. Leaflets are dark green above, densely pubescent all over the surface beneath. The petiole has a gland at the base.
The flowers are striking, forming relatively large, half-spherical heads. Petals are white or greenish white and joined for at least two thirds of their length. Stamens are fused partly to form a tube and reddish pink or green at the tips. These lax inflorescences appear in different months of the year, but in South Africa the tree flowers in spring during the months of September-November.
The fruit is a thin pod with a conspicuous margin and veins. As the pod dehisces and opens up, the margins often persist as the centre parts fall off. The seeds are flat and brown. The pods take more than 9 months to mature.

Distribution
Albizia adianthifolia is widespread in tropical Africa, from KZN through Swaziland northwards.

Habitat
In moist and tropical areas such as forests as well as areas that are transitional to woodland.

Links: Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park; Wild about Trees; Worldagroforestery Database PDF