Balanites aegyptiaca

Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile

Common names

Single greenthorn, simple-thorned torchwood (English); mubambwangoma, mubangangoma, katikayengele (Bemba); mbayampondolo (Kunda); nkuyu, syavankunzi, umnulu (Nyanja); nkuyu (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 5 m high. Bark dark grey, fissured, producing a gum when cut; branches grey-green with green thorns. Leaves opposite bifoliate, 2.5-6 x 1.5-4 cm, elliptic to obovate, bright green on both surfaces. Leaf texture is leathery; leaf margins are entire. Petiole 0.7-2 cm long; petiolules short. Flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, in fascicles or groups, inconspicuous, greenish white and produced in the axils of the leaves (September-December). Fruit ovoid, up to 5 x 2.5 cm, ripening yellowish red with orange, scented flesh (July-August).

Balanites aegyptiaca can be confused with Balanites maughamii Sprague, which hasnot been officially recorded in the valley but I believe is present. B. maughamii has forked thorns.

Range and habitat

Balanites aegyptiaca, as its name suggests, occurs from North Africa southwards to the Zambezian region. In the valley, it is found in mopane woodland and scrub woodland, and on levees and sand deposits of the major rivers. It is fairly common in the alluvial area and on termite mounds elsewhere.