Cordia goetzii

Cordia goetzii Gürke

Common names

Grey bark Cordia (English); mpyoka, mtumfumu (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A shrub or small tree up to 7 m tall. Bark smooth, grey-green to dark greay, peeling to reveal lighter grey underbark. Leaves simple, alternate, 5-10 x 2.5-6 cm; elliptic to broadly elliptic, shiny, hairless, mid-green, leathery to brittle in texture; margins entire. Petiole 1-3 cm long. Flowers small, cream-coloured, 5 mm in diameter; produced in axillary or terminal heads up to 7 cm in diameter (September-December). Fruit ovoid, 1 x 1.5 cm, orange, with a persistent calyx forming a cup around the lower third of the fruit (December-February).

Range and habitat

Cordia goetzei occurs in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. It is characteristic of riverine thicket and low altitude woodland. In the valley it is associated with riverine thicket, particularly in the South Luangwa National Park.

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