Xanthocercis zambesiaca

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nyala tree

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Xanthocercis
Species:	X. zambesiaca
Binomial name
*Xanthocercis zambesiaca* (Baker) Dumaz-le-Grand
Synonyms
Pseudocadia zambesiaca (Baker) Harms Sophora zambesiaca Baker

Xanthocercis zambesiaca, the nyala tree or mshatu, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae which is native to the southern subtropics of Africa. It occurs in seasonally hot, low-lying river valleys of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.^[2]

Nyala trees grow on alluvium or termite mounds where they have access to plentiful moisture and deep, fertile soil. They occur sparsely in the eastern lowveld of Southern Africa, but are more prolific in the Limpopo valley and along the Tuli Block's Shashe River, where they are known as mshatu trees. The foliage and fruit, which ripen in autumn and winter, provide food for various vertebrates.

The Nyala tree is a phreatophyte – it indicates the presence of ground water. The wood of a nyala tree can be worked, finishing with a smooth appearance, but irritates the nose and throat in the process.^[3]

imparipinnate leaves
open flowers, standard petals nearest
infructescences with green fruit
the fruit are drupaceous, not pods

References

^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Xanthocercis zambesiaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146210831A146210833. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146210831A146210833.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ "Xanthocercis zambesiaca". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^ Emmett, Megan; Pattrick, Sean (2012). Game Ranger in Your Backpack: All-in-one Interpretative Guide to the Lowveld. Briza. ISBN 978-1-920217-06-8.

Taxon identifiers
Xanthocercis zambesiaca	Wikidata: Q7989274 Wikispecies: Xanthocercis zambesiaca APDB: 61677 CoL: 7G6V5 EoL: 704219 GBIF: 2975473 GRIN: 101974 iNaturalist: 340321 IPNI: 525829-1 IRMNG: 10181949 IUCN: 146210831 NCBI: 53932 Open Tree of Life: 980886 Plant List: ild-7179 PlantZAfrica: xanthocercis-zambesiaca POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:525829-1 SANBI: 235-1 Tropicos: 13062380 WFO: wfo-0000212102
Sophora zambesiaca	Wikidata: Q39184582 APDB: 65906 GBIF: 3973935 GRIN: 34973 IPNI: 518972-1 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:518972-1 Tropicos: 13033041 WFO: wfo-0001055072

This Faboideae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Categories:

Hidden categories: