mopane tree

''Colophospermum mopane'', commonly called mopane, mopani, butterfly tree, turpentine tree, or balsam tree, is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in parts of Southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus ''Colophospermum''. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin kidney-shaped/nearly semi-circular seed pod make it easy to identify.

Though hard and dense and difficult to work with, it is valued timber in all sorts of construction due to its termite tolerance. Together with camel thorn and leadwood, one of the three regionally important firewood trees, due to the enduring heat, and these woods are also some of the preferred use culinarily for braai.

Range and habitat

The mopane is found on low-lying ground from (Mozambique) to (Zimbabwe).

Mopane ecoregions

Native to Southern Africa, its habitat is divided crudely into two regions: the "Angola region", i.e., Angolan mopane woodlands ecoregion, which includes Southern Angola and northwestern Namibia, and the "Zambezian region", i.e. the Zambezian and mopane woodlands ecoregion extending over the lowlands of the Zambezi River and its tributaries across the countries of Zambia, Southern Malawi, other parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini/Swaziland and northern South Africa.

Soil and morphology

While it prefers slightly acidic deep clay soil that are and , it also grows in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained. It also grows in alluvial soils (soil deposited by rivers). Where it occurs, it is often the dominant tree species, frequently forming homogeneous stands.

Within the Zambezian region described above, the trees' height varying considerably, and larger, single-stemmed trees of are found in open savannah woodlands on the (sandy) alluvial soil, forming canopy woodlands, and even reaching 18m in height for the so-called "cathedral mopane" of Zambia. The same tree is also found stunted as (multi-stemmed) shrubbery about in clayey soil or impermeable alkaline soil. Thus water or drainage seems to be a cause factor for stunting, though other causes have been hypothesized. These stunted growths are sometimes called "mopane scrub" (for shrub). The shrubs will not transition into tall woods.

This tree will not grow well outside hot, mostly frost-free areas with low to moderate rainfall (as low as 100mm per year, or averaging 400–500mm per year).

Uses

Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest, with an average density range of at 12% moisture. and is difficult to work because of its hardness.Meier, Eric (2016)
The Wood Database
' Mopane. Retrieved 24 June 2013. However it is also termite resistant making it one of the most preferred local timbers for construction, and for this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for parquet flooring. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium bogwood ornaments, similarly as driftwood decor for terrariums or gardens, or bases for lamps or sculptures.

It is also increasingly being used in the construction of musical instruments, particularly woodwind. Suitable quality African blackwood ('' Dalbergia melanoxylon''), traditionally used for clarinets, is becoming harder to find. Mopane is fairly oily, seasons very well with few splits or shakes, and produces instruments of a warm, rich tone. Clarinets made of mopane are offered by the manufacturers Schwenk & Seggelke, Wurlitzer, F. Arthur Uebel and Buffet Crampon.

Mopane twigs been traditionally used as a sort of tooth brush (chewing stick to clean teeth), and the leaves for folk remedy in healing the wound after ritual extraction of teeth. Various parts of the tree (seed, leaf, bark, root) are used in the traditional medicine of Southern African for a wide range of symptoms.

The bark to make twine or rope and for tanning leather, The wood is also used to make charcoal and for braai wood.

Food source

The tree is a major food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth '' Gonimbrasia belina''. The caterpillars are rich in protein and are eaten by people. The mopane worm is rich in crude fats and contains vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and phosphorus. Another edible caterpillar is that of ''Gynanisa maja'' (speckled emperor moth; in Bemba) which also uses mopane as host tree.

And when infested with the "mopane fly" or "mopane psyllid" ('' Retroacizzia mopani'' '' Arytaina mopani'' ) that feeds on the tree, the tree produces edible wax-like gums on its leaves called "mopane manna" which are collected and eaten by humans and monkeys.

The tree also acts as a foodplant for the wild silk moth, '' Gonometa rufobrunnea''. Cocoons of the moth are harvested as wild silk, to make cloth.

The Mopane worm creates employment and serves as a source of income for the majority of rural women. Harvesters sell it in villages, towns or to the trader.

The tree is also considered an important food resource for animal husbandry ( goat herding), as goats can be allowed to browse on the tree's leaves (cf. fig. above). They are also browsed by cattle and by game animals such as elephants, giraffes, water buffalos and antelopes in game farms and nature reserves.

Etymology

The genus name ''Colophospermum'' is a compound from Greek "resin" + Latin ''spermum'' "seed". The former derives from Colophon", which was the birthplace of Homer in Ionia, famous for its rosin, and is a reference to the seed's aromatic (turpentine-smelling) component.

The species name ''mopane'' is from its common name in Bantu languages for the tree throughout most of its range. Thus the nomenclature, starting with areas in or around South Africa are: in Northern Sotho/Sepedi (northern Transvaal, current Limpopo province), in Tsuwana (western Transvaal, northern Cape, Botswana) but in Tsonga (eastern Transvaal). It is known as in Chichewa (Malawi), in Lozi (fmr. Barotseland, western Zambia), in Thimbukushu (Namibia), in Herero (Namibia, Botswana), in Ovambo (southern Angola, northern Namibia).: Table 1. Vernacular names of Colophospermum mopame

Also spelt ''mupani'', ''mopani''. In Afrikaans it goes by or "mopanie wood" or "turpentine tree". It is called in Shona ( Sabi valley, Zimbabwe), ''chanate'' in southern Mozambique, and in Umbundu (Angola).

Gallery

File:Colophospermum mopane 2122.jpg, Inflorescences produced during mid-summer
File:Colophospermum mopane 2120.jpg, The wind-pollinated flower
File:Colophospermum mopane MHNT.BOT.2015.2.6.jpg, Dry foliage, seed pods and two seeds (bottom right) - MHNT
File:Colophospermum mopane - Seeds.jpg, The fruit are pods containing one seed each
File:Colophospermum mopane 50D 0484.jpg, Mopane worms, locally a staple food, consuming the foliage
File:Speckled Emperor (Gynanisa maja) caterpillar on mopane twig ... (51867253398).jpg, The likewise edible caterpillar of the speckled emperor moth, defoliating a sprig
File:Mopane_seed_and_leaves.JPG, Winter foliage and dry seed pods in Namibia

See also

* List of Southern African indigenous trees

Explanatory notes

References

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Bibliography

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Flora of South Tropical Africa
Flora of Southern Africa
Trees of South Africa
Trees of Angola
Drought-tolerant trees
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
Detarioideae
Monotypic Fabaceae genera
Plants described in 1865