Boscia angustifolia

Boscia angustifolia A.Rich. var. corymbosa (Gilg.) DeWolf (Boscia corymbosa Gilg)

Common names

Rough leaved shepherd’s tree (English); mwembembe, musasa (Bemba); lufwiti, muntungwa (Kunda); mhaka, mpetu, muka (Nyanja).

The common English name, ‘shepherd’s tree’ refers to the evergreen foliage of this tree that provides shade all year round.

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small evergreen tree up to 8m in height, Boscia angustifolia is most easily recognised in the dry season when it is in leaf, providing shade to wildlife and livestock. Bark pale grey, smooth but fluted. Branchlets velvety when young. Leaves simple, alternate, either occurring singly on the branches or in groups of 2-4. Leaves typically 2-7 x 0.7-2 cm, leathery, bluish green, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate. The leaf apex is tipped with a sharp point. Petiole up to 4 mm long. Flowers small, without petals and with 8-10 stamens. Produced in crowded corymbs up to 4 cm in diameter (periodically throughout the year). Fruit ovoid, 1-1.3 cm in diameter, ripening yellowish, pitted with a hard skin and soft, sticky pulp.

Range and habitat

Boscia angustifolia var. corymbosa occurs from Tanzania and DR Congo southwards into Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Boscia angustifolia var. angustifolia occurs further north in Africa. In the valley Boscia angustifolia var. corymbosa is found in mixed alluvial thicket, Combretum thicket and Mopane woodland and scrub.