Stereospermum kunthianum

Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.

Common names

Pink jacaranda (English); kayubule, mukuyu-kayubule (Bemba); mutelela-nzovu (Kunda); kafupa, mponda-njovu, mtutumuko, muramo, mwanabere, nkokona-simba, kavunguti, mlaka-njovu, msunga-wantu, mtelezi, mwinguti, mtala-njovu, mulaka-njovu, mzenda-nzovu (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

Stereospermum kunthianum is a small tree up to 13 m tall which is most easily distinguished by its peeling bark and, when in flower, by its pink jacaranda-like flowers. Bark grey to grey-black, smooth, peeling off in patches to reveal a pale underbark (very like a London Plane Tree). Leaves compound, opposite, up to 25 cm long, imparipinnate with 2-4 pairs of stiff, leathery leaflets plus a terminal leaflet. Leaflets lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, up to 16 x 7.5 cm. Apex obtuse or acute. Leaflets green and hairless above, yellow-green below with prominent venation. Flowers showy, pale pink with purple markings. Corolla tube up to 3 cm long, produced in large, drooping sprays (August-October). Fruit long, cylindrical pods up to 60 x 1 cm, greenish purple to dark brown, spirally twisted and smooth, splitting to release numerous winged seeds (October-December).

Range and habitat

Stereospermum kunthianum occurs throughout tropical Africa. In the Luangwa Valley it is found in riverine fringe woodland and thicket.