Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr.

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Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from entrance gate to Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from entrance gate to Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from entrance gate to Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from entrance gate to Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from entrance gate to Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road 11, Gorongosa National Park

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road 11, Gorongosa National Park

Dalbergia melanoxylon

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road 11, Gorongosa National Park

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

Synonyms:
Common names: African ironwood (English) Blackwood dalbergia (English) Zebrawood (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Large deciduous shrub or multi-stemmed, straggling tree. Small branchlets modified into spines. Leaves imparipinnate, clustered on small branchlets. Leaflets variable heart-shaped or oval. Flowers small, sweetly scented, white, in branched clusters, often appearing before or with the new leaves. Pods papery, not splitting.
Notes: Fairly widespread but exploited for its hard wood.
Derivation of specific name: melanoxylon: from the Greek: melanos, meaning black, xylon meaning wood, referring to the black wood.
Habitat: In mixed woodland, thickets, on rocky outcrops or termite mounds.
Altitude range: Up to 1490 m
Flowering time:Oct - Dec
Worldwide distribution: From Senegal to Ethiopia and South to Limpopo and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Also in southern Angola.
Mozambique distribution: N,Z,T,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Friday 11 March 2016
Literature:

Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 63 - 65. (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 297. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20.

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 386 - 387. (Includes a picture).

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 237.

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 67.

Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 219.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 246.

Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 88 - 89. (Includes a picture).

Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 174.

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 47.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 59.

Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 202 - 203. (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 64.

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 23.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 97.

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 211.

Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 454 - 455. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Dalbergia melanoxylon:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Dalbergia melanoxylon
Flora of Caprivi: Dalbergia melanoxylon
Flora of Malawi: Dalbergia melanoxylon
Flora of Zambia: Dalbergia melanoxylon
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dalbergia melanoxylon

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Dalbergia melanoxylon.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=131070, retrieved 19 March 2024

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