Hexalobus monopetalus

Hexalobus monopetalus (A,Rich.) Engl. & Diels var. obovatus Brenan

Common names

Shakama plum (English); mukundukubwila, mukundukundu, mukundukwibile (Bemba); mufufumo (Kunda); mkambendula (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small shrub or tree 2-7 m in height, Hexabolus monopetalus is most easily recognised by its yellowish spider-like flowers that grow straight out of the branches like the European witch hazel. Another useful character is the fact that when the leaves fall, the leaf stalk (petiole) remains on the branch. Bark dark brown-grey, longitudinally fissured, revealing pale brown underbark. Branchlets with leaf stalk stubs remaining on them. Leaves simple, alternate, occurring in a single plane. Leaf 3-10 x 1.5-5 cm, elliptic-oblong to obovate, with red hairs on the undersurface midrib. Petiole short, stout, up to 4 mm long. Flowers solitary, up to 2.5 cm long, occurring in the axils of the leaves, subsessile; The 6 yellow petals and the 3 reddish sepals are produced in whorls (October-November). Fruit finger-like, 2-3.5 x 1-1.5 cm, usually solitary but sometimes in groups of two or three, ripening red (December-April).

Range and habitat

Hexabolus monopetalus var. obovatus is recorded from Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and western Mozambique. In the valley it is found in Combretum-Terminalia-Burkea woodland and hill miombo in the foothills of the Muchinga escarpment.