Baphia massaiensis

Baphia massaiensis Taub. subsp. obovata (Schinz) Brummitt

Common names

Sand camwood (English); chimpakwe, mumwena, munwena, mutetya (Bemba); chimembe, muvunga-njati (Kunda, Nyanja)

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small tree, up to 6 m high, in the valley this species is usually found as a shrub of 1-2 m. Bark light brown, flaking; branchlets hairy. Leaves simple, alternate, elliptic to obovate, 5.5 x 3.5 cm. Leaf texture is papery, leaf margins are entire and leaf venation is conspicuous. Petiole with two noticeable swellings. Flowers pea-shaped, pinkish or white with yellow spot at base. Produced in short sprays 5-8 cm long (October-February). Fruit a long, narrow, flattened, dehiscent, woody pod, reddish brown to dark brown, up to 12 x 1 cm (July-August).

Range and habitat

Baphia massaiensis subsp. obovata occurs in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, DR Congo, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In the Luangwa valley it is found in mixed alluvial thicket, Combretum-Terminalia open woodland and in riverine areas on sand.