Amblygonocarpus andongensis

Amblygonocarpus andongensis (Welw. ex Oliv.) Exell & Torre

Common names

Scotsman’s rattle (English); mubaka, muwaka (Bemba); msengena, mubayi-bayi (Nyanja).

The English name ‘scotsman’s rattle’ refers to the pods which, when ripe, rattle when you shake them.

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A large tree of 10m or more with an irregular, rounded crown. Bark rough, grey-black, closely reticulate. Leaves compound bipinnate, 20-30 cm long; pinnae in 2-5 pairs. Leaflets oblong elliptic, 2 x 1.5 cm, in 4-7 pairs; dark blue-green above, paler below. Flowers produced in creamy yellow axillary spikes (October-November). Fruit a distinctive oblong, indehiscent, dark glossy brown pod, square in section, and up to 12 x 2 x 1.5 cm (June-July).

Range and habitat

Amblygonocarpus andongensis is found throughout tropical Africa. In the valley it is found in the deep sandy soils of Combretum-Terminalia woodland, and is associated with species such as Erythrophleum africanum, Burkea africana and Terminalia sericea.