Common names
Mulyansefu (Bemba); kabula (Nyanja).
General description and distinguishing characteristics
Viridivia suberosa is a small tree or shrub up to 8 m tall. Bark grey or grey-brown, corky and longitudinally fissured. Young branchlets densely covered with yellow or reddish-brown hairs. Leaves simple, alternate, clustered on side branches; ovate or elliptic, sometimes oblong-elliptic or even lanceolate, up to 20 x 11 cm but usually smaller, apex acute to rounded, margin toothed. Lower leaf surface densely hairy, especially on the nerves and veins. Petiole up to 5 mm long with two glands at the top. Flowers produced in 1-2 flowered inflorescences at base of short-shoots or clustered at the top of the branches; pedicels 7–18 mm., pubescent. Petals green-white to creamy yellow, up to 1.8 x 0.6 cm. (produced August-October). Fruit a globose, hairy capsule 3-4 cm long (October-November).
Range and habitat
Viridivia suberosa occurs in mid-altitude deciduous woodland in Zambia and Tanzania. In the Luangwa valley, it is found in hill miombo and on termite mounds.