Elaeodendron matabelicum

Elaeodendron matabelicum Loes.

Common names

Condiment saffron (English)

The common English name of this species is derived from the fact that parts of this tree were used by hunters to flavour their meat stews (Coates Palgrave).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

Elaeodendron matabelicum is a shrub or small tree up to 7 m in height but typically a shrub of just 2-3 m. Bark grey and smooth, later becoming deeply fissured. Branchlets purplish and often lenticelled. Leaves simple, opposite to sub-opposite, occasionally alternate, oblong to elliptic, up to 10 x 4.5 cm but usually smaller.Leaf shiny yellowishto dark green above, paler below; thinly textured with a finely toothed margin. Petiole up to 1.8 cm long. Flowers small, inconspicuous, creamy-green, produced in dense axillary heads (August-December). Fruit an ovoid, thinly fleshy, indehiscent drupe, up to 1.6 cm long, with a single stone and ripening yellow (April-July).

Range and habitat

Elaeodendron matabelicum occurs in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and northwards into Zambia, Malawi and East Africa. In the Luangwa valley it is an occasional species associated with the levees and sand deposits of major rivers and scrub mopane.