Dalbergia arbutifolia

Dalbergia arbutifolia Baker

Common names

Eastern climbing Dalbergia (English); nyausunga (Kunda); singo (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A climbing shrub, usually 4-6 m in height, with a coiled stem and tendrils. Bark grey, rough, ridged; branchlets hairy with lenticels. Leaves compound, imparipinnate, rachis 8-15 cm long, with 9-25 leaflets; leaflets elliptic, oblong or obovate, 1.5-5 x 0.6-2 cm, pubescent on lower surface, glossy above. Stipules falling early. Flowers small, pea-shaped, white turning yellow, 0.5-0.7 cm long; produced in axillary panicles 3-6 cm long, densely brown-pubescent. Sweetly scented (September-October). Fruit an elliptic to oblong, brown pod, 7.5-15 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. Apex tapering to a blunt end, and stipe up to 1 cm long. 1-2 seeded. Fruits produced October-November.

Range and habitat

Dalbergia arbutifolia is found throughout the Zambeziab region north of the Limpopo river. It is associated with riverine forest and deciduous woodland. In the Luangwa Valley it is primarily found in riverine fringe woodland and thicket. It is a common climber in the Park, and there is a particularly large shrub at Mfuwe Lodge climbing on Diospyros mespiliformis.