Cadaba kirkii

Cadaba kirkii Oliv.

Common names

Large flowered wormbush (English); kafumbe (Bemba); palaunyama (Kunda)

The common English name ‘wormbush’ refers to the worm-like cylindrical fruit. The specific scientific name ‘kirkii’ is a reference to Sir John Kirk, the physician and botanist who travelled with Dr David Livingstone on his explorations of 1858-1861.

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A shrub up to 5 m tall but usually much smaller, Cadaba kirkii is recognised by its long, worm-like fruit and sticky young branches. Bark brown, younger branches covered with golden, sticky glands. Leaves simple, alternate, arranged in spirals or in fascicles. Leaves 2.5-9 x 1-5 cm, ovate or broadly elliptic. Young leaves with glandular hairs on both sides. Midrib pale and prominent below. Petiole up to 1.5 cm long. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, yellowish, with glandular hairs and with 5 stamens. Produced in terminal, leafless heads up to 15 cm long (May-September). Fruit a long, thin dark green to dark brown cylindrical pod, 6 x 0.5 cm (September-December).

Range and habitat

Cadaba kirkii has been recorded in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In the valley it is found in valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket, and in Mopane woodland and scrub.