Elephantorrhiza goetzei

Elephantorrhiza goetzei (Harms) Harms

Common names

Narrow pod elephant root (English); chiteta (Bemba/Kunda); chandima, chikundulima, mchakima, mcheramila, nkhumba, chiteta (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small tree or shrub up to 7 m in height, but usually smaller, Elephantorrhiza goetzii is a mukltistemmed shrub with large, drooping leaves. It is most easily recognised by its feathery bipinnate leaves and its distinctive pods. Bark Smooth, grey-brown to red-brown with lenticels on younger branchlets. Leaves compound, bipinnate, up to 45 cm long with 14-41 pairs of pinnae each bearing 20-48 pairs of leaflets up to 1.2 cm long. Flowers small (5 mm), creamy yellow with multiple stamens and small petals. Produced in axillary spikes 9-11 cm long before the new leaves (October-November). Fruit a linear-oblong cylindrical pod, 45 x 2.5 cm, with the centre of the pod peeling away to leave the thread-like rims of the fruit hanging on the tree (November-February)..

Range and habitat

Elephantorrhiza goetzii is associated with rocky habitats and thin soils through out its range. In the Luangwa valley it is found in Combretum-Terminalia-Diospyros wooded grassland and in hill miombo woodland in the foothills of the Muchinga mountains.