Holarrhena pubescens

Holarrhena pubescens (Buch.-Ham.) Wall. ex G.Don (Holarrhena febrifuga Klotzsch)

Common names

Jasmine tree, fever pod (English); mwenge-busyilu (Bemba); mpala-mtowasilu, mpala-mwezamunko, mutowa-nsilu (Kunda); mweza-munko, mtowa-silu (Kunda/Nyanja); mubeza-munku (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

This is one of the most attractive shrubs or small trees in the valley. The beautiful pure white flowers are very conspicuous in the riverine area in November and December. They have a sweet scent. Bark rough, deeply fissured and corky, exuding milky latex when cut. Leaves are slightly hairy, the upper surface is glossy and dark green. The fruits are long and slender containing seeds which have a tuft of silky hairs.

Range and habitat

Mixed alluvial thicket; Combretum thicket; Combretum-Terminalia-Burkea woodland

Levees and sand deposits of major rivers.

Very common in thicket areas on alluvium; rare elsewhere.