Cassipourea mollis

Cassipourea mollis (R.E.Fr.) Alston

Common names

Onionwood (English); kafupa, nabubale, mupyaka-kulu, chibalabale (Bemba); nchila (Kunda); kamemena-mbuzi, msweshi, mwila, mpindule (Nyanja).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small tree of 3-4 m, Cassipourea mollis has a compact crown and is most easily recognised by its leathery opposite leaves and characteristic corky bark. On older specimens the bark is so deeply fissured that the vertical ridges appear wing-like. Bark: Dark grey to black, deeply fissured, with wing-like projecting vertical ridges. Leaves: Simple, opposite, produced on short, stout side branches. Leaves are leathery and stiff, elliptic in shape with the upper half of the margin toothed, 3.5-5 x 6-10 cm. Leaves are mid-green and shiny above, grey-green to ochreous, velvety below. Flowers: Single, regular. Green, hairy sepals arranged alternately with narrow, white, fringed petals (4-5); calyx 2 cm in diameter. Flowers produced with the new leaves (October-December). Fruit: A small, hairy, ovoid capsule (1 cm diameter), with style and calyx persisting (January). Seeds dark brown with an orange-red aril.

Range and habitat

Cassipourea mollis is found in both miombo and chipya, and is often associated with shallow, stony soils or rocky outcrops. However, it is also found on deep sandy soils and on the deep red soils of the Zambian Copperbelt. This species is confined to the north and eastern parts of Zambia, north and central Malawi and Tete Province in Mozambique. Outside the region it occurs in Tanzania and DR Congo. In the valley it is found in hill miombo woodland in the foothills of the Muchinga and Eastern escarpments.