Lancepod, Apple-leaf, Rain tree
Philenoptera violacea

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small to medium sized tree that loses its leaves. It grows 18 m tall. The crown is rounded. The bark is grey and has shallow cracks. It flakes off in scales. A red sticky sap comes from wounds. The leaves are 28 cm long. They have leaflets along the stalk with one at the end. There are 3-5 leaflets and the end leaflet is the largest. The leaflets are 13 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and leathery. They are densely velvety when young. The flowers are in a loose branched group at the ends of branches. These are 10-25 cm long. The flowers are 9-11 mm long. The flowers are small and violet or blue. They are pea-shaped. The flowers have a scent. The fruit is a flat pod with 1-3 seeds. It is 8-18 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. It is leathery. The seed is 12-15 mm long by about 3 mm wide and kidney shaped. The covering is smooth and reddish-brown.

There are 130-150 Lonchocarpus species - an alternative name. They are mostly tropical.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It often grows along rivers on on flood plains. It grows on Kalahari sands and termite mounds. It grows between 30-1,400 m altitude. It occurs scattered in various types of woodland in medium and low altitudes. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall over 500 mm. It can tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves can be cooked and eaten. The seeds are washed and boiled then eaten.

The leaves are eaten as a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, caution, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Plants need protection from frost when young.

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Chimpakasa, Ichichamuzi, Idungamuzi, Iphanda, Lance tree, Mapacassa, Mapacassa, Mopororo, Mpakasa, Mudoza, Mufundwe-lamba, Mukololo, Mumerafodya, Munyamharadzi, Muororo, Mupandapanda, Muwirowiro, Naame, Northern omupanda, Nswanswa, Ualanata

Synonyms

Capassa violacea Klotzsch; Derris violacea (Klotzsch) Harms in part; Lonchocarpus capassa Rolfe; Lonchocarpus violaceus (Klotzsch) Baker .f; Lonchocarpus violaceus Oliv.; Derris violacea Harms;