Mopane
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Speciesbox Colophospermum mopane, commonly called mopane,<ref name=GRIN>Template:GRIN</ref> mopani,<ref name="database">Template:Cite web</ref> butterfly tree,<ref name=GRIN/><ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/> turpentine tree,<ref name=GRIN/><ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/> or balsam tree,<ref name=GRIN/><ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/> is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, Template:Convert in elevation,Template:Sfnp 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<ref name="CABI2013"/> 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.Template:Refn<ref name="flower-etal2004"/><ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/> Together with camel thorn and leadwood, it is one of the three regionally important firewood trees, due to the enduring heat,<ref name="mendelsohn&el_obeid2005"/>Template:Clarify and these woods are also some of the preferred use culinarily for braai.<ref name="biller2012"/>
Range and habitat
The mopane is found on low-lying ground from Template:Convert (Mozambique) to Template:Convert (Zimbabwe). Template:SfnpTemplate:Refn
Mopane ecoregions
Native to Southern Africa, its habitat is divided crudely into two regions: the "Angola region", i.e., Angolan mopane woodlands ecoregion, which includes Southern Angola and northwestern Namibia, and the "Zambezian region", i.e. the Zambezian and mopane woodlands ecoregion extending over the lowlands of the Zambezi River and its tributaries across the countries of Zambia, Southern Malawi, other parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini/Swaziland and northern South Africa.<ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/><ref name="shorrocks&bates2015"/><ref name="huntley2023"/>
Soil and morphology
While it prefers slightly acidic deep clay soil that are Template:Linktext and Template:Linktext,Template:Sfnp it also grows in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained.Template:Sfnp It also grows in alluvial soils (soil deposited by rivers).Template:Sfnp Where it occurs, it is often the dominant tree species, frequently forming homogeneous stands.Template:Refn
Within the Zambezian region described above, the trees' height varying considerably, and larger, single-stemmed trees of Template:Convert are found in open savannah woodlands on the (sandy) alluvial soil, forming canopy woodlands, and even reaching 18m in height for the so-called "cathedral mopane" of Zambia.<ref name="shorrocks&bates2015"/><ref name="scholtz&scholtz&de_klerk2021"/> The same tree is also found stunted as (multi-stemmed<ref name="teshirogi2010"/><ref name="shorrocks&bates2015"/>) shrubbery about Template:Convert in clayey soil<ref name="scholtz&scholtz&de_klerk2021"/>Template:Refn or impermeable alkaline soil.<ref name="shorrocks&bates2015"/> Thus water or drainage seems to be a cause factor for stunting, though other causes have been hypothesized.<ref name="teshirogi2010"/> These stunted growths are sometimes called "mopane scrub" (for shrub).<ref name="thomas&shaw1991"/><ref name="CABI2013"/> The shrubs will not transition into tall woods.<ref name="thomas&shaw1991"/>
This tree will not grow well outside hot, mostly frost-free areasTemplate:Refn with low to moderate rainfall (as low as 100mm per year,<ref name="CABI2013"/> or averaging 400–500mm per year<ref name="scholtz&scholtz&de_klerk2021"/>).Template:Refn<ref name="makhado-etal2014"/><ref name="CABI2013"/>
Uses
Template:Multiple image Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest, with an average density range of Template:Convert at 12% moisture.Template:SfnpTemplate:Refn and is difficult to work because of its hardness.<ref name="kromhout1967"/><ref name="meier2016">Meier, Eric (2016) The Wood DatabaseTemplate:Webarchive Mopane. Retrieved 24 June 2013.</ref> However it is also termite resistant making it one of the most preferred local timbers for construction,Template:Refn and for this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props.<ref name="flower-etal2004"/><ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/> The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring<ref name="kromhout1967"/> also make it popular for parquet flooring.<ref name="flower-etal2004"/> Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium bogwood ornaments,<ref name="verhoef-verhallen2001"/> similarly as driftwood decor for terrariums or gardens,<ref name="newell2024"/> or bases for lamps or sculptures.
It is also increasingly being used in the construction of musical instruments, particularly woodwind. Suitable quality African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), traditionally used for clarinets, is becoming harder to find. Mopane is fairly oily, seasons very well with few splits or shakes, and produces instruments of a warm, rich tone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Clarinets made of mopane are offered by the manufacturers Schwenk & Seggelke, Wurlitzer, F. Arthur Uebel and Buffet Crampon.
Mopane twigs been traditionally used as a sort of tooth brush (chewing stick to clean teeth<ref name="van_wyck&gericke2000"/>Template:Refn), and the leaves for folk remedy in healing the wound after ritual extraction of teeth.Template:Refn Various parts of the tree (seed, leaf, bark, root) are used in the traditional medicine of Southern African for a wide range of symptoms.<ref>Template:Harvp: Table 2. Traditional uses of Colophospermum mopane in Southern Africa</ref><ref name="CABI2013"/>
The bark to make twine or ropeTemplate:Refn and for tanning leather,Template:RefnTemplate:Refn The wood is also used to make charcoalTemplate:Refn and for braai wood.<ref name="biller2012"/>
Food source
The tree is a major food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth Gonimbrasia belina. The caterpillars are rich in protein and are eaten by people. The mopane worm is rich in crude fats and contains vitamins and minerals, such as iron, calcium and phosphorus.<ref name="potgieter2015"/><ref name="allotey-etal2004"/><ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/> Another edible caterpillar is that of Gynanisa maja (speckled emperor moth; Template:Lang in BembaTemplate:Refn<ref name="CRC-mitsuhashi2016-Gynanisa.maja"/>) which also uses mopane as host tree.<ref name="allotey-etal2004"/><ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/>
And when infested with the "mopane fly"<ref name="allotey-etal2004"/> or "mopane psyllid" (Retroacizzia mopani Template:Smallcaps Arytaina mopaniTemplate:Refn ) that feeds on the tree, the tree produces edible wax-like gums on its leaves called "mopane manna" which are collected and eaten by humans and monkeys.<ref name="lemmens-etal2012"/><ref name="oppong-etal2009"/><ref name="oppong-etal2010"/>
The tree also acts as a foodplant for the wild silk moth, Gonometa rufobrunnea. Cocoons of the moth are harvested as wild silk, to make cloth.<ref name="allotey-etal2004"/>Template:Sfnp
The Mopane worm creates employment and serves as a source of income for the majority of rural women. Harvesters sell it in villages, towns or to the trader.<ref name="potgieter2015">Template:Cite book</ref>
The tree is also considered an important food resource for animal husbandry (goat herding), as goats can be allowed to browse on the tree's leaves (cf. fig. above).<ref name="teshirogi2010"/> They are also browsed by cattle and by game animals such as elephants, giraffes, water buffalos and antelopes in game farms and nature reserves.Template:Refn
Etymology
The genus name Colophospermum is a compound from Greek Template:TranslitTemplate:Refn "resin" + Latin spermum "seed". The former derives from Colophon", which was the birthplace of Homer in Ionia, famous for its rosin, and is a reference to the seed's aromatic (turpentine-smelling) component.<ref name="jackson1990"/><ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/>
The species name mopane is from its common name in Bantu languages for the tree throughout most of its range.<ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/><ref name="huntley2023"/> Thus the nomenclature, starting with areas in or around South Africa are: Template:Lang in Northern Sotho/Sepedi (northern Transvaal, current Limpopo province), Template:Lang in Tsuwana (western Transvaal, northern Cape, Botswana) but Template:Lang in Tsonga (eastern Transvaal). It is known as Template:Lang in Chichewa (Malawi), Template:Lang in Lozi (fmr. Barotseland, western Zambia), Template:Lang in Thimbukushu (Namibia), Template:Lang in Herero (Namibia, Botswana), Template:Lang in Ovambo (southern Angola, northern Namibia).<ref>Template:Harvp: Table 1. Vernacular names of Colophospermum mopame</ref><ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/>
Also spelt mupani, mopani.<ref name="huntley2023"/><ref name="mapaure1994"/> In Afrikaans it goes by Template:Lang or Template:Lang "mopanie wood" or Template:Lang "turpentine tree".<ref name="CRC-quattrocchi1999"/> It is called Template:Lang in Shona (Sabi valley, Zimbabwe), chanate in southern Mozambique,<ref name="mapaure1994"/> and Template:Lang in Umbundu (Angola).<ref name="huntley2023"/><ref name="mapaure1994"/>
Gallery
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Inflorescences produced during mid-summer
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The wind-pollinated flower
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Dry foliage, seed pods and two seeds (bottom right) - MHNT
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The fruit are pods containing one seed each
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Mopane worms, locally a staple food, consuming the foliage
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The likewise edible Template:Lang caterpillar of the speckled emperor moth, defoliating a sprig
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Winter foliage and dry seed pods in Namibia
_caterpillar_on_mopane_twig_..._(51867253398).jpg){kind=link}
