Bell bean tree
Markhamia zanzibarica

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A small upright tree. It grows 3-7 m tall. The crown is sparse. The bark is grey and smooth but it flakes. The leaves are light green. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are broadly oval. The leaves are 14 cm long by 6 cm wide. The flowers are deep red and yellow. They are red inside and yellow with red spots outside. They occur in branched groups. They are 5 cm long by 5 cm wide. The petals are crumpled. The fruit are slender pod-like capsules. They are 30-80 cm long and split along their length. They have golden hairs. The seeds have thin wings at both ends.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in areas with a marked dry season. It can grow in areas with a rainfall below 550 mm. It can grow in sandy, stony or loam soils. In southern Africa it grows between 520-940 m above sea level. Plants re-grow after fire. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The root is cleaned and the bark removed and the white portion sliced and put into water for 2 days then drunk.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Root - drink

How it is grown

The trees can be grown from large cuttings of branches 2 m long by 10 cm across. The trees can be cut back and will re-grow.

Its other names

Local names

Kaitala, Klokkiesboontjieboom, Kulamsue, Maroon bell-bean, Mosesenante, Mositsanateng, Mositsanyate, Mubikanyemba, Mutantauarra, Natantavala, Nhacabar, Shitsani

Synonyms

Markhamia acuminata (Klotzsch) K. Schum.; Markhamia stenocarpa (Seem.) K. Schum.;