Philenoptera violacea

Philenoptera violacea (Klotze) Schrire (Lonchocarpus capassa Rolfe)

Common names

Rain tree, apple leaf (English); chiya, mufundwe-lamba, mususwa, mukololo (Bemba); chimpakasa, mpakasa (Kunda/Nyanja); muswaswa (Nyanja/Tumbuka); Ha-ame, kapandakapanda, mupakasa (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A semi-deciduous medium sized tree, bark grey, fairly smooth, flowers are blue or purple and borne in very attractive panicles from August to September. Tree is sometimes attacked by a sap-sucking insect, these then produce a shower of 'rain' beneath the tree.

Range and habitat

Valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket. Common in the alluvial area on sand. Elsewhere it is widespread in hotter areas from Tanzania to South Africa.