Diplorhynchus condylocarpon

Diplorhynchus condylocarpon (Muell.Arg.) Pichon

Common names

Horn pod tree, wild rubber (English); mwenge, mwenje (Bemba/Bisa); mtowa, mutowa, ntowa (Kunda/Nyanja/Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A small tree or shrub up to 10 m in height, but usually smaller, Diplorhynchus condylocarpon has a light, rounded crown and drooping leaves. It is most easily recognised by its dark, corky bark, opposite leaves and milky latex. Bark: Dark grey or brown, deeply fissured and corky. Young branches dark brown and covered in lenticels. Exudes copious latex when slashed. Leaves: Simple, opposite; leathery and stiff, elliptic in shape with an acuminate apex or ‘drip tip’; 2.5-5 x 5-9 cm. Leaves are fresh, shiny green with a yellow midrib and petiole (up to 2 cm long). Flowers: Inflorescence a large, lax, axillary or terminal panicle (7 x 7 cm). Flowers sweet-smelling, small, white; corolla 5 mm diameter. Produced with new leaves in October-November. Fruit: Paired, divergent capsules, produced on stout pedicels, like a pair of horns; capsules curved, thick, dehiscent, brown and covered in lenticels. Split to release windborne, papery fringed seeds. Produced February to April.

Range and habitat

Diplorhynchus condylocarpon is is found throughout the Zambezian region, and beyond. It is often associated with thin, rocky soils, but is a ubiquitous species and is found in most woodland types, especially plateau miombo woodland. It is fire-tolerant and is therefore characteristic of fire climax wooded grassland, dambo edges etc. In the valley, this species is most common in hill miombo woodland in the foothills of the escarpments.