Dalbergia boehmii

Dalbergia boehmii Taub.

Common names

Large leaved Dalbergia (English); ntombolozi (Kunda); chinyewe, lapeha, mpereka, mpelele, mchindula (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small to medium-sized tree, up to 10 m in height. Bark dark grey, rough with close vertical fissures. Leaves compound, imparipinnate, with 9-17 leaflets; leaflets ovate to lanceolate, up to 7.5 x 3.5 cm, apex obtuse or acuminate, margin entire. Stipules falling early. Flowers small, pea-shaped, cream-coloured, 0.5-0.7 cm long; produced in lax axillary panicles with or just before the new leaves. Sweetly scented (September-October). Fruit an elliptic to oblong, reddish brown, indehiscent pod, 5-9 cm long and 1-1.2 cm wide. Fruits ripen January to March.

Range and habitat

Dalbergia boehmii is found throughout the Zambezian region north of the Limpopo and is associated with levees and sand deposits of major rivers. In the Luangwa Valley, it is an occasional species of the alluvial areas.