Zanha africana (Radlk.) Exell

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Zanha africana

Photo: Rob Burrett
Domboshawa

Zanha africana

Photo: Rob Burrett
Domboshawa

Zanha africana

Photo: Rob Burrett
Domboshawa

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Dialiopsis africana Radlk.
Common names: Muchenya (Shona) Velvet-fruit zanha (English)
Frequency: Common
Status: Native
Description:
Shrub or tree up to 10 m high. Leaves pinnate; leaflets in 3-5 pairs, subsessile, elliptic-oblong, woolly hairy when young, pubescent when mature; apex obtuse; margin crenate, crenate-serrate or entire; base rounded to ± cordate. Inflorescences in congested subspherical heads, c. 2 cm in diameter. Sepals 2-2.5 mm. Petals absent. Fruit obovoid-ellipsoid to spherical, up to 3 × 2 cm, orange or yellow, woolly hairy.
Notes: The leaves of this species may appear to be either paripinnate or imparipinnate.
Derivation of specific name: africana: African
Habitat: Usually in woodland, often in rocky places; sometimes in riverine forest
Altitude range: (metres) 610 - 1570 m
Flowering time:Oct - Dec
Worldwide distribution: Eastern and central tropical Africa: Kenya to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s): Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Monday 10 August 2009
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 541. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 59.

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa

Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 403 - 406. Dialiopsis africana (Includes a picture).

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 256.

Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 130 - 131. (Includes a picture).

Exell, A.W. (1966). Sapindaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 537 - 539. (Includes a picture).

Fanshawe, D.B. (). District vegetation reports Division of Forest Research, Kitwe (roneo).

Fanshawe, D.B. (1971). The Vegetation of Zambia. Division of Forest Research, Kitwe.

Fowler, D.G. (2007). Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses, Kew Publishing

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 95.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 174.

White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press.

White, F. (1983). The Vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir. UNESCO, Paris


Other sources of information about Zanha africana:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Zanha africana
Flora of Mozambique: Zanha africana
Flora of Zambia: Zanha africana

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Zanha africana
African Plant Database: Zanha africana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Zanha africana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Zanha africana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Zanha africana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Zanha africana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Zanha africana
JSTOR Plant Science: Zanha africana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Zanha africana
Plants of the World Online: Zanha africana
Tropicos: Zanha africana
Wikipedia: Zanha africana


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Zanha africana.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=137510, retrieved 28 March 2024

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