Brachystegia spiciformis Benth.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam

Photo: Bart Wursten
Osborne Dam Recreational Park

Photo: Mark Hyde
Bunga Views, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
11, Blue Haze Lane, Umwinsidale

Photo: Bart Wursten
Haka Game Park

Photo: Mark Hyde
c. 11 kms north of Masvingo Birchenough Road on road to Gutu

Photo: Mark Hyde
In Quarry, Mukuvisi Woodland

Photo: Mark Hyde
Corner of Crosland Road and Harry Pichanick Drive, Harare

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Synonyms:	Brachystegia bragaei Harms Brachystegia randii Baker f.
Common names:	Igonde (Ndebele) Msasa (Shona) Musasa (Shona) Mutatsa (Shona)
Description:	Deciduous tree. Leaflets (2-)4-5(-6) pairs per leaf, the terminal pair the largest; ± ovate to elliptic, glabrous, often asymmetric, held in the plane of the leaf; margin without hairs. Racemes up to 6 × 4.5 cm, usually unbranched, terminal, occurring throughout the crown. Flowers green with white filaments, sweetly scented. Pedicel scars persistent. Bracteoles 5-10 × 4-5 mm. Tepals 0 or 1-2, usually rudimentary. Pods up to 16.5 × 4.5 cm, scattered through the crown, glabrous.
Notes:	It is the splendid pallet of colours from the new leaves that form the main spectacle in spring. For differences between Msasa and the similar Munondo see Julbernardia globiflora.
Derivation of specific name:	spiciformis: resembling a spike, presumably referring to the inflorescence
Flowering time:	Aug - Oct
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Insects associated with this species:	Acada biseriatus (Food plant) Gonometa robusta (Food plant) Charaxes protoclea azota (Food plant) Micraphe lateritia (Larval foodplant) Grammodora nigrolineata (Larval foodplant) Cinabra hyperbius (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated:	Monday 28 September 2015
Literature:	Bingham, M.G. (2010). Notes on Zambian trees: Brachystegia spiciformis - Muputu Black Lechwe 17(1) Pages 16 - 18. (Includes a picture). Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 101 - 104. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 119. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 244. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. As Brachystegia spiciformis kwangensis Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. As Brachystegia spiciformis kwangensis *Coates Palgrave, K. et al.* (1956).** Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 81 - 84. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 42. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 212. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 243. Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 66 - 67. (Includes a picture). Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1967). The influence of copper content of the soil on trees and shrubs of Molly South Hill, Mangula Kirkia 6(1) Pages 63 - 84. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 43. Smith, P. & Allen, Q. (2004). Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of the Miombo Woodlands Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 1 84246 073 0 Pages 106 - 107. (Includes a picture). Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 19. as Brachystegia bragaei (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 90. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 93.

Other sources of information about Brachystegia spiciformis:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Brachystegia spiciformis
Flora of Malawi: Brachystegia spiciformis
Flora of Mozambique: Brachystegia spiciformis
Flora of Zambia: Brachystegia spiciformis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brachystegia spiciformis

External websites:

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