Small-leaf bloodwood
Pterocarpus lucens subsp. antunesii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub. The bark is pale and mottled. It flakes off. The young branches can have spines at their tips. The leaves have 4 pairs of leaflets and a leaflet at the end. The leaflets are oval. They are 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are light green. They are unequal at the ends. The flowers are in long loose sprays. These are at the ends of branches. The flowers are yellow and have a sweet scent. The fruit is a small flattened pod. It is oval and 5 cm long by 3 cm wide. It is swollen over the single seed. There is a thick wing around it.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous woodland. It is usually on deep sandy soils. It can form thickets. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves, buds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Muaxga, Muxiviri, Ungune

Synonyms

Pterocarpus antunesii (Taub.) Harms; Pterocarpus stevensonii Burtt Davy;