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Colophospermum mopane
Also called Balsam tree, Butterfly Tree, Rhodesian Ironwood, Balsamtree, Turpentine Tree, Balsem Tree, Black Ironwood
Mopane is a hardy, drought-tolerant tree (sometimes a large shrub) of hot, dry lowland woodland in southern Africa, and the only species in its genus. It thrives in full sun and poor, well-drained soils, and is grown mainly for its valuable, termite-resistant wood.
Colophospermum mopane, commonly called mopane, mopani, butterfly tree, turpentine tree, or balsam tree, is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200 to 1,200 metres (660 to 3,940 ft) in elevation, in parts of Southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin kidney-shaped/nearly semi-circular seed pod make it easy to identify.
Though hard and dense and difficult to work with, it is valued timber in all sorts of construction due to its termite tolerance. Together with camel thorn and leadwood, it is one of the three regionally important firewood trees, due to the enduring heat, and these woods are also some of the preferred use culinarily for braai.
The mopane is found on low-lying ground from 200 metres (660 ft) (Mozambique) to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) (Zimbabwe).
Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest, with an average density range of 0.990 to 1.230 g/cm3 (61.8 to 76.8 lb/cu ft) at 12% moisture. and is difficult to work because of its hardness. However it is also termite resistant making it one of the most preferred local timbers for construction, and for this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for parquet flooring. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium bogwood ornaments, similarly as driftwood decor for terrariums or gardens, or bases for lamps or sculptures.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mopane by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
